The United Kingdom has set up a visa centre in Enugu to facilitate visa applications by residents in the state, the southeast zone, and the country at large.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Monday, September 11, in Enugu.
Onyia commended the United Kingdom government for the development, recalling that the visa centre was part of Governor Peter Mbah’s earlier requests during the visit to the Government House by the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, in June this year.
The statement said the government received the news of the visa centre with delight and satisfaction, stressing that it would further enhance economic partnership and cultural exchanges between Enugu State and the United Kingdom.
He said: “The Enugu state government, therefore, looks forward to a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the UK, as the visa centre would help cement the relationship.”
“The government called on the people, especially those residing in the South-East to avail themselves of the opportunity provided to file their visa applications in the state, saying the government would ensure improved security both to residents and visitors carrying on business in the state.
Onyia reiterated that the state was open for business and investment more than ever before. The Nation reports that the apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide had in June in Enugu, where the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
President General of Ohanaeze, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had appealed for the setting up of a British Visa office in the southeast region.
According to Iwuanyanwu, the southeast zone accounts for over sixty percent of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom, stressing that it was unfair that they were subjected to travelling to Abuja and Lagos to procure their visas.
-Princely Onyenwe reporting
