The United Kingdom has expressed concern over the worsening security problems in Nigeria, pointing to unrest spilling over from nearby countries like Sudan and Niger.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, explained that these regional issues are making things harder for Nigeria and contributing to instability across its borders.
Montgomery said that the UK is working closely with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser and putting money into security-related projects to help the country handle these challenges better.
He also drew attention to the rising cases of visa fraud.
According to him, many visa applications have recently been denied, and he advised Nigerians who plan to travel to the UK to submit honest and complete documents to avoid problems.
On trade and the economy, Montgomery talked about the ongoing partnership between Nigeria and the UK.
The two countries are working together under a deal known as the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.
This agreement is expected to strengthen ties in areas such as education, agriculture, banking, clean energy, digital technology, and entertainment.
He pointed out that the UK sees Nigeria as a place with good potential for investment, especially with a recent World Bank report suggesting the Nigerian economy may soon begin to recover.
At the moment, trade between both countries is valued at around £7.2 billion.
He also mentioned a drop in the UK’s oil and gas exports to Nigeria, saying this was due to Nigeria producing more of its own energy.
He saw this as a step forward for Nigeria.
In support of Nigerian businesses, the UK has decided to remove tariffs on about 3,000 goods from Nigeria, including items like cocoa, cashew nuts, prawns, and flowers.
Montgomery also spoke about the number of people moving from Nigeria to the UK.
He said that the UK has received over 1.6 million new migrants in the past two years and that Nigerians make up more than 10 percent of recent visa approvals.
He added that while the UK welcomes skilled workers, it is also trying to control the number of new arrivals because the current level is too high to keep up with over time.
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