Elections: UK to close visa application centres

The United Kingdom has announced that it will close it’s visa application centres in Lagos and Abuja on Friday and next Monday following the general election scheduled for February 25.

The UK Visas and Immigration disclosed this via its Twitter handle on Tuesday.

“The Visa Application Centres in Abuja, Ikeja and Victoria Island will be closed on Friday, February 24 and Monday, February 27,” the UK government agency tweeted.

“No VAC appointments will be booked on these days and customers will not be able to access the VAC to collect documents/passports.”

However, it stated that customers have the option to purchase the Keep my Passport and Courier return services in advance of the VAC closure, in order to retain their passport during the period of closure.

It assured that UKVI will continue to make decisions on all visa applications.

“Priority Visa services remain available. Super Priority Visa services will be suspended on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd because the next working day opening is not until Tuesday 28th.

“The British High Commission offices are not involved in visa decision making and do not hold passports and so are unable to assist,” the tweet added.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.