Agency Report
Abuja – The British High Commission in Nigeria has debunked news circulated by Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) that the UK government approved about 430,000 visa applications by Nigeria.
NiDCOM on August 7 claimed the UK High Commissioner Richard Montgomery had said 430,000 visa applications by Nigerians had been successful.
A press release by the commission said, “Dr Mongomery equally informed that about 430,000 visa applications by Nigerians were successful this year while advising visa applicants to apply by themselves and be circumspect of agents.”
NiDCOM circulated the news, tagging the UK High Commission in Nigeria, presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale and media outlets.
However, in a tweet on August 9, the UK High Commission debunked NiDCOM’s claim, saying only 255,000 visas were issued in 12 months.
“CORRECTION: @UKinNigeria issued 255,000 of all types of UK visas in the 12 months from April 2023-March 2024,” the UK High Commission in Nigeria tweeted in reaction to NiDCOM’s tweet.
In a tweet on Saturday, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa admitted the error in her office’s claim, saying, “Very well noted. Error in figures corrected.” However, her office’s press release misleading the public has yet to be pulled down.
Similarly, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa’s office has not published a new press release with the correction she claimed has been “corrected” at the time of filing this report.