The Federal government has demanded for a review of high Visa fees and stringent Visa application process imposed by the government of United Kingdom on Nigerians.
FG also frowned at the high denial of Visa on Nigerians applicants just as it further called for a Visa waiver for Nigerians carrying official and diplomatic passports that are on official assignment.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Isah Jere Idris made the demands on Wednesday at Rotunda Hall Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja during the Opening Session of the 2023 Nigeria-United Kingdom Migration, Justice and Home Affairs Bilateral Talks.
Jere expressed profound gratitude to the delegation from the United Kingdom, the leader of the Nigeria Delegation on this Bilateral talk, Amb Akinremi Bolaji, and all stakeholders whose commitment and hard work birthed the signing of the MoU between Nigeria and the United Kingdom on Migration Partnership in February 2022 in the United Kingdom. He recalled that the agreement laid a solid foundation for seamless return migrants.
According to Him, “The signing of the MoU on Migration Partnership does not only foster the relationship between the countries, but also opens a pathway for continued partnership for the protection of citizens of both countries and dealing with common threats in the area of Migration”.
He explained that the return of Migrants should be a voluntary exercise and handled to protect the dignity of the human person.
“I will like to advocate the need to be guided by the provisions of the Agreement on Returnees that it should be voluntary and humane. Irregular migrants to be returned should be treated with respect and dignity with regards to their human right and fundamental freedom. I call on the experts at this meeting to discuss the modalities of carrying out evacuation exercises”.
The immigration boss called for a review of VISA fee and high rate of Visa denial by the UK government just as it made case for Visa waivers for Nigerians holding diplomatic or official passport.
“I want to express our gratitude for your magnanimity in the provision of various classes of Visas through which Nigerians can travel to the United Kingdom. However, I will like to call on participants at this meeting to discuss issues like the costs of visa fees and the high rate of visa application rejections. On our side, I want to inform that the revised Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP 2020) is robust enough to make Nigeria an attractive investment destination for British citizens and all other Nationals. One of the high points of the new visa policy is the introduction of the Visa on Arrival regime, which is a business visa issued to high net worth investors upon their arrival in Nigeria.
“In a similar vein, I call upon all to deliberate upon facilitation of official travels for Government functionaries. In my view, such an issue can be easily tackled with the introduction of Visa waiver for holders of Diplomatic and Official passports who are on official assignment”.
Jere said that the stringent UK migration conditions fuelled increase in illegal migration and it’s attendant hazards.
“Stringent regulations surrounding regular migration may inadvertently fuel irregular migration. I, therefore appeal to the Government of UK to relax the present stringent requirements for issuance of the UK Visas so that suitable and eligible Nigerians can migrate safely and regularly to the UK”.
He applauded the United Kingdom for the successes recorded by the project, “Collaborating Against
Trafficking and Smuggling (CATS)” executed by IOM and sponsored by the United Kingdom. He said that the program has assisted Nigeria in collaborating more effectively with the Republic of Niger to jointly tackle issues of Migrants Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons.