On 17 September 2009, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Bob Dewar, handed over equipment being provided by the UK Government to the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos. The British Deputy High Commission in Lagos has been working in partnership with the Special Fraud Unit, to help them tackle the use of fraudulent documents in visa applications.  This partnership has now been strengthened through supplying a document fraud detection machine and vehicle to the Special Fraud Unit.  

Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the Special Fraud Unit Headquarters in Ikoyi, the British High Commissioner said:

"We welcome our close partnership with the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force to tackle document fraud.  We are keen to strengthen this co-operation even further and hope that the equipment and vehicle that is being provided will allow the Nigeria Police Force to carry out effective and targeted exercises against individuals and groups using fraudulent documents in the visa application process, eventually leading to their prosecution. We are committed to making this partnership a success.

The message that we want to send out is clear. The UK welcomes legitimate travellers to the UK and those who will benefit the UK through study, business and tourism. But we are equally clear that those who seek to apply for a visa on a fraudulent basis will not be allowed to travel – and could face a ban of up to 10 years for using fraudulent documents.”

The equipment will enhance the capacity of the Nigeria Police to track down those manufacturing and supplying fraudulent documents.  The partnership will support UK efforts to ensure that only legitimate travellers can travel to the UK.  

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