Agency Report

Thousands of visa applicants on Monday besieged Lagos offices of VFS Global, United Kingdom Visa Application Centre, following resumption of visa application processing by the British mission.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that UK government had suspended walk-in service for visa applicants in Nigeria citing safety concerns.

NAN correspondent who visited the visa application centres at Maryland and Lekki areas of Lagos reports that there were long queues of visa applicants waiting to be served.

Some of the applicants, who spoke to NAN, expressed excitement at the resumption of visa applications.

Mr Tobi Odunlabi, a student visa applicant, told NAN that he arrived at the centre very early to beat the multitude of applicants.

“I have been at the centre since 5.00 a.m. and when I came here, I still met some people who were here before me and this shows you the eagerness in people.

“I am applying for a student visa as I want to go for my masters in the UK so hopefully, I hope that my visa would be accepted based on merit.

“This is the first time I’m applying so I really hope that I’m given the visa as I have spent a lot to get to this point,” he said.