By Kolawole Ojebisi
The British High Commission in Nigeria has made clarifications over its planned restriction of visa applications to countries whose citizens have gained notoriety for overstaying their approved stays.
The commission maintained that the restriction is not a blanket one, reaffirming its commitment to facilitate legal migration and legitimate travel while continuing efforts to curb immigration abuse.
This is contained in a statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson (name withheld) on Wednesday.
“We keep our immigration system under constant review to allow legal migration and legitimate travel, while deterring those who may seek to abuse it.”
The commission stressed that through the collaborative efforts of Nigeria and the UK, both countries can reduce the incidence of illegal and irregular migration.
“Our UK and Nigeria people-to-people links are strong and enduring, and we continue to work closely with the Government of Nigeria to tackle irregular migration.” the spokesperson added.
The High Commission’s clarification was prompted by the Times report on Tuesday which stated that the UK was considering new immigration measures that could make it harder for citizens of Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to obtain visas.
The report cited high rates of overstays and subsequent asylum claims for the considered move.
In recent years, Nigerian applicants have faced tighter visa rules, including restrictions on bringing dependents and reduced post-study work opportunities.
