On Wednesday, the United Kingdom announced the opening of its largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Africa, located in Ikeja, Lagos. This significant development is operated by VFS Global and aims to improve visa application services for Nigerians seeking to travel to the UK. The announcement was made by the British High Commission in Lagos, highlighting the importance of enhancing the ease with which Nigerian nationals can apply for UK visas. With existing centres in Abuja and Victoria Island in Lagos, this new facility, operational since November 19, is designed to facilitate visa submissions and provide applicants with a more streamlined and user-friendly experience.
The launch event in Ikeja was attended by British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, who underscored the significance of the UK-Nigeria relationship and expressed optimism about the improved visa services that the new centre will bring. He articulated his delight at the inauguration of the largest VAC in Africa, emphasizing Nigeria’s status as a crucial partner for the UK. Baxter’s remarks reflect a broader commitment to evolving and improving the services provided to Nigerian applicants, ensuring that they have access to efficient and reliable processes as they pursue travel opportunities to the UK.
Marc Owen, the Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), also remarked on the inauguration as a significant milestone in offering high-quality visa services. He revealed that over 225,000 UK visa applications from Nigerian nationals were processed in the year leading to June 2024, indicating the increasing interest in UK travel. Owen noted that the establishment of the Ikeja VAC is part of a strategic effort to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness to the needs of visa applicants, pointing to the strong demand for UK visas among Nigerian nationals.
The new Visa Application Centre in Ikeja introduces a variety of enhanced features designed to offer applicants a more supportive experience. These services include assistance with document uploads, extended hours for submissions, timely SMS updates on application statuses, and convenient courier services for passport returns. Additionally, applicants now have the flexibility to retain their passports after completing biometric enrolment if they choose to do so. Notably, for residents in Abuja, there is now the opportunity to utilize the Mobile Visa Service to submit applications from their preferred locations, further emphasizing the focus on convenience and accessibility.
To cater to different preferences, the VAC also provides a Premium Lounge option that offers a personalized application experience with dedicated staff members. These additional features are designed to enhance convenience for applicants while ensuring that processing times and outcomes remain unaffected. The UK continues to be a highly sought-after destination for Nigerian travelers, who account for five percent of all global UK visit visa applications, underscoring the significance of this new centre in addressing the needs of this demographic.
Lastly, VFS Global, a partner of UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, has significantly expanded its operational footprint, growing from 58 to 142 countries. This expansion further solidifies its role in managing visa services globally, including in Nigeria. The inauguration of the Ikeja VAC is a testament to the UK’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible and efficient visa services to Nigerian nationals, ensuring that the growing demand for travel opportunities to the UK is met with world-class application support.
