BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION IN NIGERIA

British High Commissioner Andrew Lloyd (R).

The British High Commission in Nigeria its main office located at Dangote House, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama District, Abuja. Other offices of the commission are located at  11 Walter Carrington Crescent, Vitoria Island, Lagos, Plot 230, Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt, and number 3, Independence Way (Alimi Road Entrance) Kaduna.

The High Commission is responsible to the British government for all aspects of relationship between UK and Nigeria.

Andrew Lloyd is the High Commissioner of UK to Nigeria; he is the Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Benin and Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Lloyd before assuming his current post in Nigeria was Director, Corporate Services, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) from 2008 to 2010, aiming to reform the way the FCO runs its people, buildings and money.

Until 2008, Lloyd was the FCO Director for Africa – the senior foreign policy adviser on Africa to the British Foreign Secretary, also responsible for leading a network of 30-plus British Embassies, High Commissions and other posts around Africa.

From 2000 to February 2002, he was head of the British Diplomatic Office in Kosovo, leading the British diplomatic effort to end the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo, where he was closely involved in the establishment of Kosovo’s self-government and democratic institutions.

He has previously served as British spokesman at the United Nations and delegate to the UN Security Council in New York, as Economic Secretary at the British Embassy in South Korea, as a Visa and Information officer in Nigeria, and a Trade Policy Official at the British Embassy in Washington

Operation time:

The Abuja office of the High Commission operates from Monday to Thursday 8a.m. – 4 p.m., and on Fridays 8a.m. -1p.m.

The Lagos office operates on Monday- Thursday 7.30 a.m. – 3.30p.m., and on Fridays 7.30a.m. – 12.30p.m.

Visa Application:

The UK Border agency and its High Commission in Abuja and the Deputy High Commission in Lagos work in partnership with VFS (a commercial organisation) for the processing of its visas.

Submission of applications for British’s visa and biometric fingerscans can be done at the VFS’ Visa Application Centres (VACs), both in Abuja, Lagos (Lekki and Ikeja).

Submission of applications for visa at VACs is allowed Monday- Thursday 8a.m. -3p.m. and Friday 10a.m. to 4p.m.

Applicants can also complete their application and submit it on-line using the High Commission’s online visa application service at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk  However, one still need to visit one of the three VAC application centres listed above to make a payment and give their biometric data.

Visa fees

Short term visit (up to six months, single or multiple entry) N19,760

Longer term visit - up to 2 years N68,900

Longer term visit - up to 5 years N126,360

Longer term visit - up to 10 years N182,520

Business Visitor

Short term visit (up to six months, single or multiple entry) N19,760

Longer term visit - up to 2 years N68,900

Longer term visit - up to 5 years N126,360

Longer term visit - up to 10 years N182,520

Business visitor - academic visitor (up to 12 months) N19,760

Business visitor - clinical attachments, dental observation and PLAB test N68,900

Diplomatic Couriers N19,760

Entertainer

Entertainer visitor (up to six months, single or multiple entry) N19,760

Longer term visit - up to 2 years N68,900

Longer term visit - up to 5 years N126,360

Longer term visit - up to 10 years N182,520

Family visitor

Short term visit (up to six months, single or multiple entry) N19,760

Longer term visit - up to 2 years N68,900

Longer term visit - up to 5 years N126,360

Longer term visit - up to 10 years N182,520

Student visa: main applicant and dependants (visa duration for main applicants and their dependants is subject to length of study. Study below degree level is limited to three years maximum duration) N66,300.

The scholarships attract no visa fees: Chevening Scholarship or Fellowshi, British Marshall Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarship, and Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan

Restricted items

For security reasons the under listed are not allowed into the visa application centre offices or stored in the premises: All battery operated or electronic gadgets such as cameras, audio/video cassettes, compact discs, MP3's, floppies, laptops, or portable music players. 

 All bags such as travel bags, back packs, briefcases, suitcases, leather, jute or cloth bags and zip folders. Small bags, such as ladies handbags may be permitted but they will be searched by security staff before being allowed into the visa application centre.

 Sealed envelopes or packages. 

 Any inflammable item such as matchboxes/ lighters/ fuel.

 Any sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail filers.

 Weapon or weapon like objects or explosive material of any kind. 

Other items may be prohibited based on security staff discretion.

There are no facilities at the visa application centre to store prohibited items. Applicants are requested to make alternative arrangements to store their belongings.

Only applicants will be admitted to the visa application centre - with the exceptions of children who should be accompanied by a responsible adult; carers of disabled applicants and interpreters for the hearing-impaired.

About Britain

Nigeria, until October 1, 1960 when she gained her independence, was a colony under the British government. Britain is in the north-west Europe and is an island country made up of England, Wales and Scotland.

London is the capital of the UK and of England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales.

The 2001 census estimation puts the population of UK at 59,647,790.

Symbols associated with London and England include River Thames, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Royal Family (Buckingham Palace), Union Jack (official flag of UK), high tea (drinking tea in the late afternoon), Bobbies (nickname for policeman), double decker bus, and black taxis.

Nigeria- Britain bilateral relationship

The relationship between the UK and Nigeria is deep. We are bound by strong historic, social, cultural, political and economic ties.

Politically, Nigeria is one of the UK’s key international partners, and we work closely together bilaterally and in multilateral fora, on a range of domestic and international issues including climate change, peacekeeping and reform of international institutions. Nigeria is a priority country for the UK, and our High Commission in Abuja carries out work across the FCO’s Departmental Strategic Objectives. This importance is reflected in regular and substantive high-level contact between British and Nigerian Ministers.

A leading supporter of Nigeria

The UK has been a leading supporter of Nigeria since the return to civilian rule and was a key advocate of debt relief. We are committed to working with Nigeria Government to promote good governance and help Nigeria achieve the Millennium Development Goals. In 2010 the UK’s bilateral aid to Nigeria will rise from £120 to £140 million per annum, and will support work ranging from malaria prevention, to girls' education, to reform of the justice sector.

Trade and business

Nigeria is an increasingly important market for British companies, and the UK is one of the largest investors in Nigeria, in sectors from oil and gas to financial services, to agriculture. Trade between the two countries increased by 67% from 2007/8 to 2008/9.

The Nigerian community in the UK

The UK is home to roughly 800,000 people with family ties to Nigeria, and members of the Nigerian diaspora play an important and valuable role in the UK’s economy and society, contributing to a large number of fields from medicine to financial services to football!

Cultural ties

Cultural and educational relations are also strong. The British Council has a significant presence in Nigeria, and thousands of Nigerians attend British Universities each year. Many more visit the UK for holidays and family visits. In the last year, over 110,000 visas were issued to Nigerians to travel to the UK, and the UK Borders Agency team in Nigeria works hard to provide the best possible service.