Over 170, 000 Nigerians travel to the United Kingdom every year, the British High Commission has said.
This was made public in Lagos yesterday at a concert and talent contest organised by the British High Commission in Nigeria in collaboration with Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) to raise awareness amongst Nigerian youth on the dangers of illegal migration.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY in Abuja, the High Commission said a large crowd turned out for the event held at the Waterparks Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the statement , “every year, over 170,000 people travel from Nigeria to the UK. Most of those travelling have a great time and their visits are safe and successful. The UK is open to genuine visitors, students and business people, and they benefit from the first class visa service we offer.”
It added that, “some people try to circumvent the system and try to travel illegally. When our well-trained visa officers uncover cases of fraud, the applicant faces a potential 10-year ban on travelling to the UK.
“We have strict controls in place to detect fraud, including sophisticated document verification and biometrics. It’s important that you fill in applications as fully and honestly as possible. If you don’t, the consequences can be very serious.”
While warning Nigerian youths on the danger of patronising fraudsters in their quest for visa, the commission cautioned on presentation of faked documents.
