Rivers state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has appealed to the British High Commission in Nigeria to relocate its visa office back to Port Harcourt.
He made the appeal when the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Carter, paid him a visit in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The Governor said that Rivers people will be glad if that policy happens, so that people in the South-South region can be able to process their visa application in Port Harcourt.
He added that a lot of people fly directly to the UK through Port Harcourt hence the need to have the visa office in the oil rich city.
Mr Amaechi assured the Deputy High Commissioner of adequate security in the state, saying that the state government was ready to provide an office to house the new visa operations.
He added that the presence of such office will spark fresh business opportunities and boost relations between United Kingdom and Nigeria
The British High Commissioner, Peter Carter who told Mr Amaechi that the visit to Rivers state was his first official visit outside Lagos since he resumed duties, thanked the Governor for his style of governance.
He revealed the British government’s support to his administration to ensure transparency. He also gave the assurance of United Kingdom’s desire for the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, which he said, will lead to open and transparent oil and gas sector and long term investment benefits to Nigeria.
