UK closes Visa Application Centres in Ikeja, Victoria Island on Monday

The United Kingdom has announced that its visa application centres located in Lagos, Nigeria, will be closed on Monday, March 20th, due to safety concerns arising from the forthcoming Gubernatorial  election. The closure follows the governorship elections scheduled to hold on March 18th.

In a statement released on Friday, the UK confirmed that its visa application centres in Ikeja and Victoria Island will not be accessible for customers to collect their passports on the same day. The decision was taken to ensure the safety of both staff and customers, and no VAC appointments are scheduled for that day.

This is not the first time that the UK has taken such precautionary measures to protect its staff and customers during an election in Nigeria. In 2019, the UK's High Commission in Nigeria issued a travel advisory, urging British nationals in the country to be cautious during the presidential and National Assembly elections held in February of that year.

The safety of both staff and customers is a top priority for countries with visa application centres around the world. The UK's decision to close its Lagos visa application centres on March 20th highlights the importance of ensuring the safety of all stakeholders during times of political tension and instability.

The closure of the visa application centres may cause some inconvenience to customers who were planning to collect their passports on that day. However, it is a necessary measure to protect the lives of all concerned. Customers who were scheduled to collect their passports on March 20th are advised to contact the visa application centres in Lagos for further information and to reschedule their appointments.

Overall, the UK's decision to close its visa application centres in Lagos on March 20th is a necessary step to ensure the safety of both staff and customers during the gubernatorial election. The move is in line with the UK's commitment to prioritizing the safety of its stakeholders, particularly during periods of political unrest. Customers are advised to check with the visa application centres for any updates and reschedule their appointments accordingly.