The United Kingdom on Wednesday expressed concern over Nigeria’s security challenges, describing the situation as troubling.
Speaking to journalists at his Abuja residence, UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, attributed the challenges to spillovers from conflicts in Sudan and Niger.
He noted that the UK is collaborating with Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser and investing in security infrastructure to mitigate the issues.
Montgomery also raised concerns about rising cases of visa fraud in Nigeria, linking them to recent visa application rejections. He urged applicants to submit accurate and complete supporting documents to improve their chances of approval.
Despite these challenges, the UK reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic and trade ties with Nigeria through the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).
This partnership focuses on key sectors such as education, agriculture, financial services, clean energy, digital technology, and the creative industry.
On economic matters, Montgomery praised a recent World Bank report indicating that Nigeria is on a path to economic recovery, positioning the country as an attractive destination for UK investments.
He highlighted the trade relationship between the two nations, currently valued at £7.2 billion.
While acknowledging a decline in UK exports of hydrocarbons to Nigeria, Montgomery commended efforts to boost local production in Nigeria.
Additionally, the UK announced a tariff-free export policy for 3,000 Nigerian goods, further strengthening bilateral trade.
Some of the products on the list include cocoa, cashew nuts, prawns, and flowers.
Migration
During the briefing, Montgomery responded to questions concerning the migration of skilled health care workers to the UK, highlighting that the move is to control the influx of persons.
He stressed that over 1.6 million people moved to the UK in the last two years, and sustaining their migration to the UK was not realistic.
While highlighting the fact that the UK population was put at 68 million, the envoy explained that Nigerians got over 10 percent of visa approvals recently.