The United Kingdom has established a visa centre in Enugu to help citizens of the state, the southeast zone, and the country apply for visas.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Monday, September 11, in Enugu.
Onyia commended the UK government for the development, adding that the visa centre was one of Governor Peter Mbah’s previous requests during the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery,’s visit to Government House in June this year.
The administration expressed delight and satisfaction at the news of the visa centre, emphasising that it will strengthen economic collaboration and cultural interactions between Enugu State and the United Kingdom.
He said: “The Enugu state government, therefore, looks forward to a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the UK, as the visa center would help cement the relationship.”
“The government called on the people, especially those residing in the South-East to avail themselves of the opportunity provided to file their visa applications in the state, saying the government would ensure improved security both to residents and visitors carrying on business in the state.
Flights grounded as UK air traffic control systems suffer ‘technical issue’ Onyia reiterated that the state was open for business and investment more than ever before.
The Nation reports that the apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide had in June in Enugu, where the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
President General of Ohanaeze, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had appealed for the setting up of a British Visa office in the southeast region.
According to Iwuanyanwu, the southeast zone accounts for over sixty percent of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom, stressing that it was unfair that they were subjected to traveling to Abuja and Lagos to procure their visas.
