FG Barks over £3,000 Bond for Nigerians to Enter UK

A diplomatic face off is brewing between Nigeria and the United Kingdom following a  proposed policy by the  British Government  requiring  Nigerian travellers to the UK to deposit £3,000 as bond in case they overstay  their visa limits.

This is coming as Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday assured that the federal government would defend the interest of Nigerians on consular related issues with foreign countries.

Also the federal government summoned Dr. Andrew Pocock, British high commissioner to Nigeria, over the development just as the House of Representatives flayed the policy and warned that it could have negative impact on the relationship between the two countries.

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Pakistan and India are listed by the UK as countries whose citizens are to deposit the £3,000 under the proposed policy that will take off in November.

A Home Office official said the six countries highlighted were those with “the most significant risk of abuse.”

About 2.2million people are granted visas to enter Britain every year.

Last year, 296,000 people from India were granted six-month visas, as were 101,000 from Nigeria; 53,000 from Pakistan; and 14,000 apiece from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

According to media reports, Theresa May, Home secretary, said the administration of David Cameron, British Prime Minister, is serious about cutting immigration and abuses of the system.

The Sunday Times of London had reported that every visitor aged 18 and above granted a six-month visa would forfeit the £3,000 if they overstayed in Britain after the expiration of their visa.

The scheme will initially target hundreds of visitors, but the plan is to extend it to several thousands, according to the newspaper’s front-page report.

But in Abuja, Ashiru, who was responding to a question at the 2013 ministerial platform, said that the UK government was yet to officially notify Nigeria on the proposal, scheduled to start in November.

He said that “Really, we have received no official communication from the UK government. When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever proposal they are trying to do. But I can assure Nigerians that President Jonathan’s government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means it can.”

The minister noted that the biggest challenge facing the present administration’s foreign policy thrust was the welfare of Nigerians abroad. He said that Nigeria missions abroad had been directed to pay attention to the needs of Nigerians, particularly the plight of those in prisons.