Skip to main content

'UK Didn't Suspend Student, Work, Family Visas For Nigerian Applicants'

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja 

The United Kingdom has refuted claims that it suspended students, work and family visas for Nigerian applicants. 

This is coming on the heels of a statement issued by the British High Commission in Nigeria yesterday, announcing a temporary suspension of priority visas for student, work and family applications. 

However, the Press & Public Affairs Officer, Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission in Nigeria, Ndidiamaka Eze debunked the claims through a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja today. 

Accordingly to her, "We are aware of the reports circulating in the Nigerian media and online that the UK has suspended student, work and family visas for Nigerian applicants, this is not true."

She said that its possible for Nigerians to apply for any category of UK visa in the usual way on gov.uk and via their Visa Applications Centres (VAC) in Nigeria.

Eze stated that the VACs remains open and that customers are welcome to apply for a standard visa of any category in the usual manner, inclusive of the istudent, family, work and visit visas.

The statement added, "However, due to a reprioritisation of resources in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion of Ukraine, the UK has temporarily suspended its priority visa service. This temporary suspension only applies to the UKVI’s expedited, added-value ‘Priority’ and ‘Super Priority’ visa services. This suspension is to enable the UKs global visa operation to prioritise applications for the new Ukraine Family Scheme."

She stated that the decision to suspend priority visa services was clearly spelt out on UKVI’s guidance page, which revealed the latest decision waiting time for visa applicants outside the UK on : www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk. 

Eze however apologised for any inconvenience the development must have caused the public, adding that the high commission will issue an updated statement as soon as the ‘Priority’ and ‘Super Priority’ visa services resumes. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EHCON Moves To Rebrand Environmental Health Sector Using Artificial Intelligence

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Dr Yakubu Baba The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has taken cogent steps to rebrand the environmental health sector using artificial intelligence.  Already, plans are underway to extend the initiative across the six geopolitical zones, as no community would be sidelined.  The Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba stated this in Abuja at a 3-day workshop organised by EHCON in collaboration with Afri-Tourism Investment Limited and West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) with the theme: "AI-Driven Operations and Predictive Analysis." The essence of the workshop is to improve environmental health practice and prevent emerging diseases using artificial intelligent.   It is expected to empower Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with the necessary digital skills needed to deepen environmental health practice and provide workable  solutions to problems.  Baba noted that integrating AI into environmental he...

EHCON Unveils Technology To Phase-out Emissions, Protect Public Health

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has unveiled a technology meant to phase-out Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and protect public health from emerging diseases, in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.  Tagged Oxytane Fuel Additive, it is designed to enhance engine performance, increase fuel efficiency by over 25 percent, and reduce harmful emissions by up to 70 percent. It has been tested on high-capacity generators, including at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. Oxytane works by cleaning fuel injectors, removing carbon deposits, and improving combustion in petrol, diesel, and kerosene engines. It is used for personal vehicles, generators, and industrial equipment.  Unveiled by EHCON in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and Oxytane Africa Investment Limited, the initiative will strengthen environmental governance and control Nigeria's carbon footprints.  These formed the c...

EHCON Bolsters NDCs With National Response Initiative On Greenhouse Gas Emissions

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has strengthened Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with the unveiling of national response initiative, meant to cripple diseases traceable to Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions nationwide.  This formed the crux of discuss on Monday at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and the Declaration of a Public Health Emergency on Environmental-Related Diseases.  The National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (NERI-EPHIGGE) was designed to strengthen Environmental Health Service (EHS) delivery, promote climate responsive public health interventions and enhance the professional capacity of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) across the country to mitigate GhG emissions.  Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba said that the i...