By Lizzy Okoji

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs Catriona Laing, has said that the number of Nigerians applying for visas to the UK has increased in recent times.

Laing made the disclosure on Sunday in Abuja when she featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.

She noted, however, that the UK government was mindful of the situation and was in talks with the Nigerian government to avoid causing brain-drain, especially in the health sector.

The high commissioner expressed her delight that the UK had become an attractive destination for Nigerians, especially students, adding that the UK was ready to welcome talents.

“You know, thereis obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family orwherethey have friends. Secondly, the English language obviously makes it a lot easier.

“Thirdly isthe education; and people whohave studied they will want to return.And I think you know,we are a welcoming country and we want to welcome talents, whether it’s people coming to study, or people coming to work.

“So, a lot of Nigerians will be tuned to the UK and wehave seen actually a very big increase in requests for Nigerian student visas. Thatis partly because wehave changed our policy.

“Soit is now easier for Nigerians,students to remain after their studies,they can stayI think up to two years if you have donea masters or a PhD, which will enable people to look for work afterthey have studied.

“We have labour shortage in the UK at the moment. But we have to balance that because we donot also want to be responsible for a massive brain drain from Nigeria because you also need talented people.

“So the health sectoris an example wherethere isa lot of Nigerian medics, both nurses and doctors in the National Health Service,” Laing said.

Responding to why the UK is sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, Laing said it was to enhance migration in partnership with Rwanda.

“We have a policy wehave designed,toenhance migrationinpartnership with the government of Rwanda. But itis actually under legal challenge at the moment.

“So that isjust one element of trying to deal with what is frankly a huge problem.

“Like yousee in the news, each day, these boats are coming across the channel with migrants from many different countries, and itisa huge, huge problem.

“Becausewhen they arrivedthey have to findaccommodation, it takes a long time to process their applications.

“So we absolutely recognise there are many genuine refugees from countries like Syria, in Africa, it ismostly Eritrea, South Sudan, thepeople who are fleeing horrible persecution.

“So theRwandapolicy is just one component of many that weare trying to put in place to address this very challenging problem,” Laing said. (NAN)