The UK government yesterday in Abuja promised to co-operate in the issue of entry Visas with the Nigerian athletes and officials to next month’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Jonathan Bacon, Political Counsellor, British High Commission, told journalists after a meeting with the National Olympic Committee, NOC that the UK government would co-operate with the Nigerian athletes and officials in terms of issuing entry Visas to UK for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“We are happy to have a meeting with the NOC to keep up the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham at the end of July. We believe the Commonwealth Games is going to be a fantastic event, and we will be welcoming the people all over the world who will ultimately come to the Commonwealth Games to participate.
“We discussed various issues with the NOC that will help making their team’s travel to UK smooth, and we discussed about visa process for members of the Games family who wish to travel to the UK and start the process and to make it as smooth as possible, that is, in a process and other things as well, which we are very hopeful that will help make the Games successful”, Jonathan Bacon said.
Earlier, the NOC president, Engineer Habu Gumel said the Committee called for the meeting with the British High Commission, which was accepted, and that it provided the avenue for dialogue in view of the country travelling to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games.
Describing the meeting as being ‘successful’, Gumel said very important issues were discussed and the Committee received all the guidelines regarding the visa issue.
“You know that we are travelling to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games, and we requested for a meeting with the British High Commission, which they accepted. We held very important meeting, we received all the guidelines regarding the visa issue, which is very important to us. Through questions and answers, all the details we needed to guide us were disclosed”, said Engineer Habu Gumel as he added that there would be no problem having visas for the Nigerian athletes and accompanying officials.
He also added that a link has been for the journalists that applied for accreditation for them to process their entry Visas.
According to Gumel, the list and number of athletes and accompanying officials would be released at the appropriate time.
is yet to know the exact number of Nigeria’s contingent, as the technical officials are still scrutinising the athletes.
“By the time the technical officials are through with their screening, we will know the number of athletes and technical officials and others that would require the visa to travel to the UK.
“We are happy with the discussion we have with the officials of the British High Commission, it was very fruitful”, Habu Gumel said.
