After six days of closing its visa application centres in Nigeria due to the vicious EndSARS protests that were hijacked by hoodlums in major cities across Nigeria, the United Kingdom (UK) has announced the reopening of the centres.
The UK made the announcement on Monday evening while giving the assurance that it’s working hard to process all outstanding applications.
“Our OTL contacts Visa Application Centres are now open in Nigeria,” it said.
Following over a dozen days of youth-led protests at strategic locations across Nigeria against brutality by a rogue police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), violence erupted in parts of Lagos leading to the burning of a police station.
The Lagos state government declared a curfew and soldiers were brought in to enforce it reportedly shot at protesters killing many.
The UK on October 21, 2020, said in a statement titled ‘Important: Closure of our Visa Application Centre’ on its website that the centres will be closed for at least 48 hours.
“Due to the ongoing protest in Nigeria and for the safety of both staff and applicants, our Nigeria centres will be closed for 48 hours at a minimum,” it said.
For applicants with booked appointments within this period, the UK embassy said they would “please need to reschedule your appointment for next week, from 26th October 2020.”
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While announcing the reopening of the visa centres, the UK embassy said: “Following the recent closure, we are working hard to process all outstanding applications. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.”
Meanwhile, members of Parliament of the UK said they have taken up the sporadic Lekki toll gate shooting that led to the alleged death of many unarmed protesters.
A member of the UK parliament was on Wednesday seen in a video obtained by BusinssDay addressing other parliamentarians as he described the matter as one that was crucial.
“It is crucial given the horrific scenes we have seen overnight,” the member said to the minister.
Drawing the attention of other parliamentarians to the issue, the member said he had to bring it up because of the “shocking scenes of the brutality and violence that we have seen at the Lekki toll gate. He added: “I hope that the Minister can perhaps share with us the Government’s responses to the shocking scenes.”
Also, the UK parliament says it will consider a petition asking the country to sanction the federal government for human rights abuses over the #EndSARS movement. This is following a petition by more than 133,000 signatures, less than 24 hours after it was created, higher than the 100,000 signatures required by the parliament before it considers a petition.
The petition on the UK government and parliament website accused the government and the police of violating the rights of agitators protesting against police brutality.
It asked the UK to implement sanctions that would “provide accountability for and be a deterrent to anyone involved in violations of human rights”.
“Parliament will consider this for a debate … waiting for less than a day for a debate date,” the government-owned website stated.
