… As 11%  applications contain fraudulent documentation

By Emeka Aginam, Asst. Online Editor
While encouraging more customers to use online visa application system   which gives equal opportunities and convenient, latest statistics from the United Kingdom Border Agency, (UKBA) in Nigeria has  revealed that approximately 4 per cent of the United Kingdom visa applicants in

Jason, UKBA Manager while address newsmen last year during a facility tour of UK visa application centers in Lagos

Nigeria  use online visa application system.

A cursory analysis of above figure showed that majority of Nigerian are still not conscious of online visa application system which has  continued to be the toast of visa applicants in other  countries of the world,  especially the United States of America ,  Federal Republic of Germany, among others.

The United Kingdom Border Agency Manager, Mr Ivory Jason in an online interaction with Vanguard Computers & E-Business while condemning fraudulent application disclosed that in  2008, the British High Commission in Nigeria processed just over 181,000 visa applications, adding that  101,000 of these applications were issued representing 55% of total applications.

“Approximately 11% of all visa applications submitted in Nigeria contain   some form of forged or fraudulently obtained documentation (approximately 20,000).

“At present, approximately 4% of our customer base use our online visa application system. We are currently reviewing use of this system to try and encourage more of our customers to use the system” he said

Looking at these figures, the  truth of the matter is that the British High Commission in Nigeria  is among the Consulates in Nigeria that have been in transparent visa application processing. This posture of transparency in the UK visa application process  have been hailed by right thinking individuals  in the society.

For one thing,  the recent  donation of e-detective machine to the  Nigerian Police force to tackle the use of fraudulent documents in visa applications by the British High Commission in Nigeria would reduce the menace of fraudulent visa applications to the barest minimum.

The  British High Commissioner, Mr Bob Dewar, while handing  over the  equipment  provided by the UK Government to the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos recently had said  that the   equipment would  enhance the capacity of the Nigeria Police to track down those manufacturing and supplying fraudulent docum-ents.”  The partnership will support UK efforts to ensure that only legitimate travelers can travel to the UK” he added.

The British Deputy High Commission in Lagos according to him  has been working in partnership with the Special Fraud Unit, to help them tackle the use of fraudulent documents in visa applications.

“This partnership has now been strengthened through supplying a document fraud. We welcome our close partnership with the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force to tackle document fraud.

“ We are keen to strengthen this co_operation even further and hope that the equipment and vehicle that is being provided will allow the Nigeria Police Force to carry out effective and targeted exercises against individuals and groups using fraudulent documents in the visa application process, eventually leading to their prosecution. We are committed to making this partnership a success.“The message that we want to send out is clear. The UK welcomes legitimate travelers to the UK and those who will benefit the UK through study, business and tourism.

“ But we are equally clear that those seeking to apply for a visa on a fraudulent basis will not be allowed to travel – and could face a ban of up to 10 years for using fraudulent documents.” he said.

But in as such as the British High Commission and other embassies in Nigeria are being transparent in visa processing,  one area where the British High Commission has to look into  is visa application from members of the Nigerian media who are agents of development, society watch dog, social workers, and by extension, the conscience of the society.

Although visa applicants are expected to meet certain criteria; including  demonstration of  strong economic ties as  requirement to secure a British visa, the truth of the matter is that journalists should be given preference as a result of the role they play in the democratization process globally.

But recent findings have revealed that a lot of Nigerian journalists have been denied British visa on the ground of what the High Commission describes as  demonstration of close ties, visible assets and personal responsibilities in their personal and economic circum-stances.  Industry observers  are beginning to be worried as a result of the way journalists are treated in the process of securing a travelling visa to cover assignment abroad. According to them, Journalists should be given liberal conditions while applying for travelling visa  because of teh  crucial roles they play in  shaping the society.