The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, says Nigeria is among the countries that have benefited most from Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU).
Richard Montgomery
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Montgomery said the UK-Nigeria trade and investment relationship is now guided by post-Brexit rules that strengthen economic ties and open new opportunities.
He noted that Brexit has significantly expanded migration opportunities for Nigerians, with the number of Nigerians in the UK rising sharply in recent years.
“In 2021, we had an estimate of about 300,000 people of Nigerian descent or nationality in the UK. Today, that figure has risen to 550,000,” Montgomery said. “The diaspora from Nigeria has increased partly because of the post-Brexit immigration regime. So, Nigeria has been a big beneficiary of Brexit.”
The envoy added that Britain’s withdrawal from the EU allowed the UK greater freedom to realign its economic relationships and strike trade deals beyond Europe.
“Brexit has caused a realignment in many of our economic relationships. Some may look positive, some may look negative. But overall, the UK has much more independence and freedom to do trade deals outside the EU,” he explained.
Montgomery cited the UK’s strengthened ties with the United States as a prime example, highlighting that “massive US investments in the UK” are being driven by the economic flexibility made possible by Brexit.
