The United Kingdom has ordered the closing of visa application centres. Following the general election on February 25th, the United Kingdom has announced that its Visa Application Offices in Abuja and Lagos will be closed on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.

The UK Visas and Immigration Twitter account made the announcement. Keep my Passport is a service offered in the United Kingdom that allows clients to keep their passports during a closure.


Between Friday, February 24 and Monday, February 27, Visa Application Centres in Abuja, Ikeja, and Victoria Island will be closed. Customers will not be able to visit the VAC to pick up documents or passports on these days, and VAC appointments will not be available.

Clients wishing to keep their passports during the VAC closure can prepay for the Keep my Passport and Courier return services. UKVI will still handle all visa decisions.

There is still access to Priority Visa processing. Due to the long wait until Tuesday, the 28th, Super Priority Visa services will be unavailable on Wednesday and Thursday.

The British High Commission offices cannot provide assistance as they are not authorized to make visa decisions or handle passports.

Safety Warning for Nigerian Elections Issued by U.S. Embassy

In preparation for the upcoming elections on February 25 and March 11, the United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a warning to American residents living in Nigeria about the potential for protests.

The embassy also warned that nationwide movement restrictions would be enforced on election days, as was customary in previous elections.

The Embassy warned its citizens on its website, urging them to stay away from gatherings because "they can turn violent with little or no notice."

The Embassy also recommended that American citizens in Nigeria carry enough food and water for three days at home in case movement restrictions are prolonged beyond election days in a notification headlined "Security Advisory - Potential Protests Leading to Elections and Limited Moves on Election Days."

According to the announcement, election day restrictions on using private vehicles will be enforced nationwide. According to official government reports, only authorized law enforcement personnel and INEC-accredited election observers would be permitted to use the roadways during the upcoming Nigerian election.

Historically, roads have been closed to private automobiles from midnight on February 25 until midnight on March 11.

The timeframe for continued mobility constraints is still unknown. Keep an eye out for announcements from the Nigerian government concerning the limits.

The Embassy urged American nationals in Nigeria to stock up on food and water for three days in case mobility restrictions persisted past Election Day. If you need to leave your home quickly, have a bag packed with your identification documents, medications, toiletries, cash, and a change of clothes; Stay away from huge groups of people; watch your back; maintain a low profile; Be sure to have valid identification on you at all times; go over your personal security plan; keep your cell phone charged in case of an emergency; Check the news in your area regularly.

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