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UK Rescinds Controversial £3,000 Bond for Nigerians Seeking UK Visas

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The United Kingdom has rescinded her controversial plans for a £3,000 bond on Nigerians seeking entry to the country after a massive outrage greeted the proposed scheme.

Appalled by the move, Nigeria’s ministry of Foreign Affairs assured Nigerians of government’s readiness to defend and protect them all over the world.

Also the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee described the proposed UK entry bond as discriminatory and unacceptable.

The plan is now being hastily rewritten after Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader in the UK declined to sign off the details of a pilot scheme due to start in November.

It would be recalled that Theresa Mary May, British Home secretary had put forward a £3,000 cash bond to deter “high risk” Asian and African short-term visitors from overstaying in Britain.

The scheme was floated at the weekend by the home secretary and provoked uproar in India and Nigeria, which were among the six countries named as possible targets, with threats that reciprocal action should be taken against British visitors.

The other countries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana.

“The policy has not yet been signed off,” said a Liberal Democrat source in the UK was quoted as saying.

“We are in favour of the principle but the exact details of how it is to be piloted, including the size of the bond, is still being discussed in government.”

Clegg has said he favours the introduction of a £1,000 cash bond to deter overstayers.

Home Office sources confirmed that the level at which the bond is to be set was among the details yet to be decided, and said the pilot scheme was still in the planning stage.

They stressed that the requirement to post a bond would not apply to all visitors from the designated countries but only to individuals regarded as high risk.

The scheme might apply to hundreds of visitor visa applicants initially, before being expanded to cover many thousands later.

The Home Office wants to pilot the scheme for six-month visitor visas and will extend it to student and work visas if it proves successful. Those who overstay their visa and fail to return home will forfeit the money.

The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the announcement of a £3,000 bond scheme at the weekend was in danger of provoking a diplomatic backlash in India, months after David Cameron had tried to combat the perception that Britain was closing its doors to students from the subcontinent.

It reported that the Confederation of British Industry had attacked the scheme as “highly discriminatory and very unfortunate”.

In Nigeria senior government officials and politicians described the scheme as discriminatory and unacceptable.

Mr Ode Ogbole, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Abuja told Daily Trust: “It’s been rescinded”.

Elsewhere, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP Abia), committee chairman on foreign affairs  said in a statement that “This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is targeted to non-white Commonwealth. We would take a critical look at the policy as it affects Nigerians and come up with a way forward”

“We agreed totally with the UK Foreign Minister that the policy is totally unworkable and impractical. It is contrary to the commitment made to our President by David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for political reason ahead of general election. We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency,” Ukeje said.

In the UK, Keith Vaz, chair of the Commons home affairs committee, said the move flew in the face of Cameron’s intention to attract the brightest and best to Britain. “The plans could potentially alienate already settled communities in the UK,” he said.

“There are a number of holes in the home secretary’s pilot. If this is to be workable she must conduct a proper consultation. She has said she wants to deter overstayers, yet with the mess that is E-Borders there is currently no way to monitor if people actually leave the country.

The bond level of £3,000 is completely unrealistic. If somebody was determined to work here illegally this could be earned back in a matter of months,” Vaz said.

But May said the move was the next step in making sure the immigration system was more selective, and bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.

“In the long run we’re interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services,” she said. “We’re planning a pilot that focuses on overstayers and examines a couple of different ways of applying bonds. The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful we’d like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country.”


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GEFAS Launches Tech-Driven Hub to Mobilize Youth for Soludo’s Re-election

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Geeks and Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS) on Thursday 17th July, 2025 unveiled its new office space in a significant event that further strengthens the group’s mission to drive Governor Soludo’s “everything technology, technology everywhere” vision across Anambra State.

The unveiling was performed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, who could not contain his excitement and amazement at the level of sophistication of the facility and the vibrancy of the young professionals and tech enthusiasts behind the initiative.

Prof. Chukwulobelu commended the GEFAS team for building such a dynamic platform, uniting diverse sectors under a common goal to support Anambra’s digital transformation and Governor Soludo’s re-election bid at the November 8 Governorship Poll, without requesting a dime from the government.

He noted that their efforts reflect growing youth support for his administration.

“Our goal is to secure victory in the upcoming election and continue delivering good governance to the people of Anambra. Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra

There is no vacancy in Government House come November 2025,” he added.

He urged GEFAS members to remain steadfast and resilient in the face of opposition, adding that the government would collaborate with and complement GEFAS to ensure its vision is further integrated into governance for greater impact.

Also present to lend credence to the movement was the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, who described GEFAS as a strategic and dynamic angle to the campaigns.

He lauded the initiative, stating that it exemplifies the power of digital tools in modern political campaigning and governance, and expressed optimism that a second term for Governor Soludo would unlock even more innovative solutions for Ndi Anambra.

In her remarks, Ms. Odili Jombo, a coordinator with GEFAS, shared the impressive results of the Alliance’s outreach so far.

She revealed that the GEFAS Call Centre, with its team of 21 dedicated agents, has already reached over 20,000 Ndi Anambra, gathering valuable insights on citizens’ sentiments about Mr. Governor’s performance and their disposition towards the upcoming elections, an experience she described, has recorded more positives than negatives.

She further announced that GEFAS will soon unveil a mobile WiFi bus, among other top-tier initiatives designed to change the campaign landscape and further position Anambra as a leading tech state.

The event was well attended by top government officials, members of the media, tech stakeholders, and other well-meaning Ndi Anambra, many of whom expressed amazement at what GEFAS has created and pledged unwavering support for them and Governor Soludo’s continuity at the November polls.

Explaining the passion behind GEFAS, the Convener and MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the Alliance as a continuity-driven force working to align with Governor Soludo’s vision of moving Anambra from a departure lounge to a destination lounge.

“We believe that together, leveraging technology, we can drive the real change Anambra truly deserves,” he said.

With this milestone, GEFAS remains committed to driving technology-driven engagement that delivers practical impact and amplifies the Solution Government’s transformational strides.


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HCSF Describes Galaxy Backbone as a Strategic Partner in Civil Service Digitalization Reforms

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In a significant move towards accelerating the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, paid a strategic working visit to Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Limited, Nigeria’s foremost ICT infrastructure and shared services provider.

The visit, which took place at GBB’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) and Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, forms part of the HCSF’s efforts to deepen collaboration and assess the technological infrastructure supporting the government’s ongoing digitalisation reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre, and a delegation of Permanent Secretaries and Directors from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the visit featured an extensive tour of GBB’s cutting-edge Digital Infrastructure facilities. These included its Network Operations Centre (NOC), Security Operations Centre (SOC), and Uptime Institute Certified Tier III Data Centre; all built to ensure a secure, scalable, and sovereign digital infrastructure for Nigeria’s public sector.

In his welcome address, Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre described Galaxy Backbone as a critical institution under the supervision of FMCIDE, tasked with providing the nation’s core digital infrastructure and shared ICT services. “Today’s visit is an important opportunity to showcase the significant progress GBB has made in building the infrastructure necessary for a truly digital government,” he said.

“I believe this engagement will foster stronger alignment and collaboration between MDAs and GBB as we move towards a more connected and efficient public service.”

The Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, expressed appreciation for the visit, noting its alignment with GBB’s mandate to support Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.

“A visit of this nature by the Head of the Civil Service is highly symbolic,” he remarked. “It reinforces the central role that the Civil Service plays in national development and highlights the importance of strategic ICT infrastructure in driving effective governance.”

He went on to emphasize that GBB’s mission to design, build, and manage Nigeria’s digital infrastructure aligns seamlessly with the Civil Service’s digital reform agenda.

“Our platforms; including the 1Government Cloud, GovMail, and our extensive fibre optic network present in 28 states, are designed to support a digitally enabled, secure, and efficient government,” Prof. Adeyanju added.

He also called for greater collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service to drive the adoption of GBB’s infrastructure, particularly the fibre optic connectivity already terminated at Federal Secretariat buildings across 28 states of the country. He further appealed for support in expanding Local Area Networks (LANs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) secretariat buildings to integrate more MDAs into the digital ecosystem.

In her remarks, Mrs. Walson-Jack commended the world-class infrastructure and strategic digital solutions developed by Galaxy Backbone, stating that her perception of the agency had been greatly enhanced following the tour.

“This visit has opened my eyes to the enormous potential and capacity that Galaxy Backbone brings to Nigeria’s digital journey,” she said. “I now see GBB not just as an ICT agency, but as a strategic partner in the realisation of our dream to build a modern, agile, and paperless civil service.”

She specifically praised GBB’s support for the “War Room” initiative, the widespread deployment of GovMail — currently serving over 34,000 civil servants, and the agency’s high-speed fibre connectivity provided during the 2025 International Civil Service Week hosted by her office.

Reaffirming her office’s commitment to achieving a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025, the Head of Service expressed optimism that this goal is attainable with stronger collaboration and technical support from GBB.

She also highlighted several strategic areas where partnership with GBB is critical, including:

  • Full implementation of the 1Government Cloud to host and manage MDA operations.
  • Adoption of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to streamline records and workflow automation across MDAs.
  • Synergy between the 1Government Cloud Academy and the Civil Service Academy to enhance capacity development.
  • Training and onboarding of civil servants on innovative tools such as Service-Wise GPT – Nigeria’s AI-powered platform designed to transform public service delivery.

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Sani, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at GBB, in his vote of thanks, expressed deep gratitude to the Head of Service and her delegation for taking the time to visit and engage with the team. He reiterated GBB’s unwavering commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to deliver inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking digital solutions for the Federal Government.

 


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Festive Seasons Trigger 400% Spike in Livestock Prices Across Nigeria’s North East — Moniepoint Study

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A new study by Moniepoint Inc., Africa’s leading financial technology company, has revealed that livestock prices in Nigeria’s North East markets surge by up to 400% during festive seasons, driven by high demand from cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha.

The report, which focuses on informal market dynamics in Borno State, shows that traders at Kasuwan Shanu in Gamboru dispatch an average of 50 trucks daily during peak periods such as Eid al-Adha and Christmas, with goat prices rising by 400–470% and rams by over 230%.

Beyond seasonal spikes, the study highlights a shift toward investment-minded trading, where livestock is raised in advance to boost resale value. This approach is helping traders build more stable and profitable businesses, despite the region’s history of conflict and economic volatility.

Key findings include:

  • 51.2% of traders source goods from Maiduguri, reinforcing its role in Nigeria’s food supply chain
  • 45% of traders now accept digital payments, with mobile transfers and POS usage rising sharply since the 2023 cash crunch
  • Informal credit and trust-based transactions remain dominant, often conducted via phone calls and voice notes, without formal contracts

Moniepoint CEO Tosin Eniolorunda said the company’s tools are helping bridge long-standing gaps in access to finance: “This shift isn’t just tech-enabled — it’s structurally impactful. We’re helping build an economy where everyone can participate.”

The study joins Moniepoint’s growing portfolio of thought leadership on Nigeria’s informal economy, following previous reports on Onitsha Market, community pharmacies, and women-owned businesses.


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