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Letter to Gordon Brown: Ordeal of Visa Applicants at the British Embassy in Nigeria

Written by News Hound

Saturday, 15 December 2007

Mr. Gordon Brown,
British Prime Minister,
10, Downing Street,
London SW1A 2AA,
United Kingdom

Dear Sir,

ORDEAL OF VISA APPLICANTS AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN NIGERIA

We heartily congratulate you on your assumption of office as the British Prime Minister. Please do accept our congratulatory goodwill message. Though it came a bit late, we believe it is still relevant considering the enormous responsibility your office upholds.

However, we want to bring to your attention a very sensitive issue that not only requires your urgent response, but also can only be handled by your office. This pressing issue has to do with the ill treatment meted on Nigerian applicants seeking for British visas at the British Consulate Offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

Before we go into the details of the activities of the British Consulate in Nigeria, let us re-emphasise the relationship that exists between Britain and Nigeria.

Nigeria, located on the Western region of Africa, with a current population of about one hundred and fifty million (150,000,000) people, used to be a British colony, until she gained her independence on October 1, 1960. Regarded as the most populous Black Country in the world, Nigeria can be erroneously taken for the giant of Africa. Being an ex-British colony makes Nigeria a (financial and active) member of the Common Wealth of Nations.

The enormous natural resources in Nigeria, in terms of cash crops like Cocoa, cotton, rubber, oil palm, groundnut, etc has attracted your country men into Nigeria to engage in business transactions, productions (having access to cheap raw materials, to service British industries) and so on. Beside, the vast agricultural produce, Nigeria is also blessed with abundant mineral resources like (predominantly) crude oil and natural gas. This has provided great opportunities for British investors to have invested in the country and with little or no restrictions.

Presently, some Nigerians that were opportuned to be in Britain are making serious waves and positive impacts to improve and give their quota to the British economy. Nigerians have turned scientists, academicians, musicians, poets, journalists and reporters (in BCC), Pastors (like Matthew Ashimolowo of the King International Christian Centre, KICC, believed to own the biggest black church in the United Kingdom (UK), Medical Doctors, Entrepreneurs and many others, all contributing to the welfare of Britain in one way or the other. The bottom line is that, the two countries have benefited and are still enjoying such benefits from each other for a long time now. Therefore, there are certain issues (like the one we want you to address) that should not come into play.

It is true (beyond any reasonable doubt) that, the British government and its citizens, do have interest in Nigeria and vice versa, but the way and manner Nigerian applicants seeking for British visas are treated by the staff of the British Consulate offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. Is a clear disparity of the cordial and historical relationship between the two countries. This is gradually breeding resentments and reservations in the hearts of well-meaning Nigerians towards Britons.

It is pathetic that most times, an overwhelming number of Nigerian applicants of British visas are harassed and humiliated by the British Consulate Officers working in the places mentioned above. Some consulate officers have ignored the bureaucratic process of visa issuance and have turned the whole thing into a profit making venture. Aside long delays and failed promises, the situation is so bad that often times, most Nigerian visa applicants sleep overnight on queues and after all the stress are still denied British visas with no apologies rendered, but rather, flimsy excuses are given for the visa denial. The annoying aspect is, within all these processes, some selected few (Nigerians) are still given preferential treatment probably because of their status or influence.

We believe there should be a general principle / guideline of bureaucratic procedures pertaining to getting visas from the British Consulate in Nigeria. And it is pertinent to emphasise that the British High Commission in Nigeria is ?public service? oriented and not for profit maximization that has made Nigerians to spend huge sums of money on a daily basis in the name of visa applications. This money is running into millions of pounds weekly, all to the detriment of Nigerians seeking for British visas. We believe any form of irresponsibility and fraudulent practices on the part of he Consulate officers, should be seriously frowned at, because it does not portray the good image of the British government. Nigeria visa applicants? (genuine) credentials and bio-data information should be ?sincerely? verified and authenticated before his / her application fees are collected. Let it be a yardstick that, only when visa applicants? credentials have been certified and authenticated and other claims verified before the applicant?s fees are collected.

We expect that Nigeria, being an ex-British colony and also an active member of the Common Wealth of Nations, should be given attentive and preferential treatments in the issuance of British visas amongst other things. Just like what is obtained in other African countries with their ex-colonial masters like Cameroon, as an ex-French colony, is treated fairly by the French government, that France involvement in the development of Cameroon cannot be compared with that of Nigeria and Britain.

We challenge the British High Commission in Nigeria to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians for the shabby and sometimes inhuman treatment meted on Nigerians seeking visas by the British Consulate offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. Especially Nigerian applicants who have wasted time, money and energy and yet were not granted visas (probably as a result of not meeting the above set criteria, but money was collected from them). And for the interest of the Nigerian government and the British government, any money fraudulently collected by the British Visa Office should be made available for the Nigerian applicants. Let it be that their efforts (stress) were compensated through this medium.

We also pray the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to use his high profile office to enlighten the British High Commission in Nigeria on the need to provide adequately, services that will continue to strengthen the long cordial ties between Nigeria and Britain. Nigerians should be given a fair treatment, because we believe Britons resident in Nigerian soil, are not treated same, anything short of this will be regarded uncivil and unethical. Besides, part of a Consul?s job is to help people traveling to his / her own country (staying in a foreign land) and to protect their interests.

With the issues raised here, we believe the British government will look into it so that Nigerian applicants would not have to sleep on queues, not treated fairly in an attempt to obtain a legitimate visa to Britain, as long as such applicants meet the required criteria.

We are looking forward to a positive change towards this complaints established here. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and response.

Cc: Umaru Musa Yar?Adua
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Zik Gbemre
National Coordinator
NIGER-DELTA PEACE COALITION

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Comments (5)

	1. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 15-12-2007 17:06 - Guest
	additional comments Thank you for bringing this out. I wish to state here that its not only in seeking for visa now, there is no guarantee that if you have the visa you will be allowed entrance into the UK at the port of entry. Lots of Nigerians have been sent back to Nigeria for flimsy excuses from the various airports in the UK at the port of entry by the immigration officers/home office representatives. These people do not put into consideration the money spent in purchase of ticket and even the time and energy put into acquiring the visas. I do not see any reason why the immigration officers/home office representatives do not trust the visa officers in Nigeria enough after granting these good citizens visas. Please do note that these people in most cases are not found with any contraband but are sent back for no good reasons. i think we need to look into the way we Nigerian and Blacks are treated by these British authorities. I agree some Nigerians take advantage of some things but please how do you justify the fact that a responsible citizen of Nigeria with a good job going on vacation is sent back to Nigeria having shown evidence of return back to Nigeria, company\'s ID card and even a return ticket. Please, I appeal to well meaning Nigerians and the British Government to do something as soon as possible. Remember Nigeria is a British colony and as best as I know, we are not hostile to Britons. Thank you.

	2. Written by HI on 19-12-2007 11:53 - Guest
	additional comments I do not blame the brits na our govt cause am. If Our Govt knows their responsibility then no fucking country will toy with us. Nija pple are killed daily in fucking white mans land and our presidents especially OBJ dance around them like fat pigs. Fools who do not know where their loyalty should be. How many Nigerians have been deported wrongly all over the world? dont you see how other nationals are rescued when ever they have a problem? So you see why I always say I miss Abacha. He was bad but he protected Nigerians abroad.

	3. Written by anonymous on 19-12-2007 19:47 - Guest
	additional comments i am indeed quite happy that this is being talked about.it is really unfair the way we nigerians are being treated in briton.the most annoying thing is that nigerians are only recognised here as being dodgy and crafty.As long as u holdthat green passport u ve been tagged a criminal and will be questioned as one.I can personally confirm to u that the majority of the nigerians going to briton are doing this in good course.they make it difficult during entry that people are not comfortable going back home for fear of not being allowed entry on their second visit. i think its pathetic and the govt should speak out for his people.In nigeria u haave to be someone to be heard.

	4. Written by Calvo on 24-12-2007 19:32 - Guest
	additional comments It is not worse than we treat ourselves is it? Have you not noticed that those who come from certain homes (Countries) are treated differently. Its not just down to race. When has our government made any serious effort to support its citizens abroad or at home? Why do we get shafted around by other countries? Because they can, OK?

	5. Written by dare on 09-01-2008 17:13 - Guest
	bad treat from UK Yes, I really do appreciate this great alart to the British Authority. Yes, as a Nigerian I fell victim of this treat by the british Immigration Officers. I traveled for my painting exhibition and they told me that my passport was not properly issues and that they have no other option but to send me back. They actually did and this questioned passport was with them. They have refused to send it back to Nigerian immigration authority after six month. Funny enough, nobody here (even those in the authority) could anything about it and was the exhibition I paid through my nose before clearance was sent to me. This is serious http://-

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