The United Kingdom (UK) government has granted at least 430,000 visas to Nigerians who want to study and move to Europe in 2024.
Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, disclosed this information to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), on Wednesday in Abuja.
Montgomery gave the Federal Government of Nigeria the assurance that the country’s citizens are protected by sufficient security measures.
The UK’s diverse population is a reason why the High Commissioner emphasized that the country is still a safe haven despite the ongoing unrest.
In addition, he stated that sixty special courts have been established to address criminal activity associated with the disturbances.
About 400 people have been arrested in relation to the violence, according to Montgomery, and the government is actively pursuing justice against those who spread hate and false information online in order to incite unrest.
There have not yet been any reported casualties from Nigeria, according to NIDCOM Chairperson Dabiri-Erewa.
The Nigerian High Commission in London and other diaspora organizations, she said, are in contact with NIDCOM, but none of them have reported any incidents involving Nigerian nationals.
Dabiri-Erewa praised the UK government for acting quickly, particularly with regard to the arrests, and urged Nigerians to follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advisories and stay safe.
