UK high commission introduces four major initiatives in bid to improve service

NIGERIA'S high commission to the UK has announced the completion of four major landmark projects as part of its ongoing reform programme aimed at improving access to consular services.

At a mini event held at the high commission in central London yesterday, the high commissioner, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, announced the completion of the four major projects. They included the redesign of the high commission website, the opening of the cafeteria, the completion of the refurbishment of Abuja House and the installation of digital window displays at the high commission.

Ambassador Ishola said: "I am pleased to announce that the high commission’s website has been redesigned. It is now more user-friendly and it takes you to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ passport application portal.

"In addition, the cafeteria in the high commission has now been fully refurbished. Run by Tasty, it is now fully functional and offers an array of Nigerian dishes to all those who visit the mission.

"We have also completed the refurbishment of Abuja House, the residence of the high commissioner. In addition, at Nigeria House, the high commission has completed the renovation of Tafida Hall and has installed four electronic windows offering digital displays on the outside of the building."

He added that going forward, the next step to be taken will be with regards to passport applications. According to the high commissioner, the mission plans to end all phone passport queries and migrate them all to email.

Ayo Akinfe, the chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk), said: "Canuk will be working with the high commission on this as we see post-service customer support as the biggest challenge with passport applications. Over the coming weeks, the Canuk exco will be meeting with the high commissioner to discuss this matter."

According to Abi Bada, the Canuk general secretary, other matters which Canuk will be looking to raise with the high commission over the coming weeks include organising independence day celebration on October 1 and Canuk's end-of-year gala dinner on December 16. This year's end-of-year party is taking place at Regency Banqueting Suite, 113 Bruce Grove, Tottenham, London N17 6UR, starting at 7pm and lasting until midnight.