Clarification on possible visa scam

Wednesday 28 April 2010

In January 2010 the Agency was informed by Norfolk County Council of its concerns relating to a request received by a Norfolk-based food-packing company for letters of invitation to inspectors from the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC).

The request was for letters of invitation so that NAFDAC representatives might inspect good manufacturing practice at the Norfolk factory.

The Norfolk company, which had in July of 2009 received an order for produce to be exported to Nigeria, was concerned that a possible scam was taking place in order to obtain UK visas.

On 16 April 2010, the Agency was advised by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) section at the British High Commission in Nigeria that, following further investigations, it had received confirmation from NAFDAC that the letters of request issued to the Norfolk-based food company were genuine.