My Review

3 out of 10 stars
Visited the Nigerian High Commission for the first time yesterday (13th July 2010).

This is clearly a service which is a 'work in progress'.

The realisation that the reception service is outside the building is not a good start. A man mumbles the question "What are you here for?" The main door is opened and you are ushered to go downstairs. On the stairwell are people waiting or discussing their affairs. As you downstairs (into the basement!) I was dismayed by the number of people waiting to be seen, both sitting and standing. The atmosphere is tense and noisy. After several enquiries as to where to get a ticket, I am told that a man in the side office will issue me with a ticket. However, it takes another 15 minutes or so to get to him as he is having discussions with several other people, all wanting their requests dealt with.

After getting my ticket (I am way down on the list), I look around the room at the anxious faces and ask several people if it is always like this. The response, a resounding YES. I was advised to bring a book, have lunch and sit back and wait, wait, wait. The first two I did not do as I was not expecting this, but the latter I did. Until I was finally seen and met by a counter worker who, I'm sorry, I have to say, was both quite rude in her tone when speaking to me and her body language.

There simply is no excuse for rudeness and does not encourage first timers to want to come back. It is only out of necessity I'm sure that people go to this building. I have to say building as the service was very, very poor.

This is England, 2010 and if the English, Chinese can do - Nigeria must be able to follow swiftly. Come on Nigeria - serve your citizens and those that are linked to your citizens in a much better way.

I did comment to a gentleman next to me that the service reminded me of how GP practices were a long time ago, archaic, cramped, poor service and no ventilation. Move to a new building!