British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has highlighted the United Kingdom's significant visa engagement with Nigeria, revealing that approximately 300,000 new visas were granted to Nigerian nationals in the past two years.

Speaking on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily, Montgomery challenged perceptions of harsh immigration policies, emphasizing that Nigeria has been a major beneficiary of post-Brexit migration rules. He noted that Nigerians have been particularly instrumental in critical sectors such as social care.

The diplomat pointed out that Nigeria represents about 10% of the UK's total visa grants during this period. His statements follow the recent opening of a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Ikeja, Lagos, operated by VFS Global, which the British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter described as the largest such center in Africa.

Baxter previously confirmed that from June 2023 to June 2024, over 225,000 UK visas were processed for Nigerian nationals across various categories. Montgomery further emphasized the depth of bilateral relations, describing the visa relationship as unprecedented in its scale.

The High Commissioner praised the contributions of Nigerians in the UK, highlighting their "incredibly important" role in British society and workforce. His comments suggest a robust and growing migration pathway between the two countries, particularly in professional and skills-based immigration.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​