VFS opens visa processing centre in Lagos to serve 15 countries

United States has announced that routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic missions across Africa will end from August 1, 2026, as part of a broader restructuring of its overseas consular operations.

The U.S. Department of State said the move was aimed at centralising routine visa services in regional hubs to enhance national security, reduce government spending, and ensure greater consistency in visa screening, vetting and adjudication.

In a statement on the U.S. Department of State website yesterday, the department said the reorganisation aligned with the priority of President Donald Trump’s administration to place America’s interests and security first.

Besides Abuja, the affected diplomatic posts are located in Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek.

The State Department, however, clarified that the change affected only routine visa processing and does not alter the operational status of the embassies and consulates involved.

It also emphasised that all diplomatic missions would continue to provide consular services and carry out their regular functions on behalf of the United States.

The department further assured travellers that the policy did not invalidate visas already issued.
Meanwhile, VFS Global has opened a new joint Visa Application Centre in Lekki, Lagos, enabling it to process visa services for 15 countries from a centralised location.

The new centre is expected to effectively cater to the growing outbound travel from Nigeria.

VFS Global, which noted this yesterday during a media engagement, listed the destinations as Australia, Angola, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai (DVPC), and Germany.

Others are Ireland, Japan, Malta (long stay), Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Sweden.

According to VFS, the development comes at a time when outbound travel demand from Nigeria remains strong.

It noted that visa application volumes processed in Nigeria during the first half of 2026 remained at the same level as in the corresponding period in 2025, following a robust 51 per cent increase in 2025 compared to 2024.

Popular destinations, including the UK, Canada and China, continue to witness positive application trends from Nigerian travellers, while destinations such as Australia, Ireland and Schengen countries, including Sweden and Portugal, are also recording healthy demand.

VFS Global explained that the sustained growth is being driven by increasing demand for international travel across tourism, business and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segments, alongside continued interest in overseas education and greater forward planning by travellers.

According to it, the new Joint Visa Application Centre in Lekki has been designed to support this growing demand by providing greater capacity, enhanced applicant comfort and improved accessibility, while maintaining VFS Global’s high standards of security, service excellence and operational efficiency.

Commenting on the relocation of the application centres in Nigeria, Regional Head for Central & West Africa at VFS Global, Prashant Kansara, said: “The relocation of our Joint Visa Application Centre to a more spacious and convenient location in Lekki, Lagos is a testament to our ability to cater effectively to the growing demand for outbound travel and visa services from Nigeria in recent years. The new centre offers enhanced capacity and a superior customer experience, enabling us to support travellers more efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of service and security.

“With international travel demand remaining strong, we encourage applicants to plan and submit their visa applications well in advance of their intended travel dates, particularly during peak holiday periods and student intake seasons. Applying early helps travellers better prepare for their journeys and contributes to a smoother application experience.”