The director of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Mr. Marc Owen visited Nigeria this week for his first official trip to the country in this role.
As one of the UK’s largest visa markets, Nigeria plays a pivotal role in UKVI’s global operations.
During the visit, Owen engaged with key stakeholders in Abuja and Lagos, reaffirming UKVI’s commitment to fostering strong relationships and delivering efficient, customer-focused visa services.
In Abuja, he met with director for legal, migration and consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Asari Allotey where he highlighted significant UK visa developments, including the global eVisa rollout and discussed maintaining the integrity of the UK’s immigration system.
He also held discussions with the vital registration and digitisation lead at the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Makama Taala and migration health officer at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM),Dr. Penelope Miremba. He emphasised the mutual benefits of digitising records such as birth, death and TB test certificates to enhance storage, transmission and verification processes.
At the British Council office, the UKVI delegation toured the English language test centre and interacted with student counsellors and UK university agents.
In Lagos, Owen met with members of the UK Joint Border Task Force (JBTF) and key business leaders. He also visited the newly inaugurated UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Ikeja, operated by the UK’s new commercial partner, VFS Global, where he reviewed service delivery standards to ensure convenience and efficiency.
Throughout his visit, Owen addressed the challenges posed by visa fraud and fake travel agents, cautioning applicants to remain vigilant. He reiterated the importance of using only official UKVI channels when applying for UK visas.
A statement by senior communications and public diplomacy officer at the British High Commission, Onyinye Madu emphasised that this step is essential for safeguarding applicants and maintaining trust in the visa process. Owen’s visit marks a new chapter in UK-Nigeria collaboration, promising stronger engagement and impactful outcomes.
