Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru on Tuesday summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock to formally protest the proposed ‘£3000 bonds’ for visa applicants from the country, saying Nigeria will not hesitate to retaliate should they go ahead.
Ashiru had expressed the strong displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria over the policy, which he described as not only discriminatory but also capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth family.
He recalled with nostalgia, the times when nationals of the Commonwealth travelled freely to the UK and to other member states, noting that it deepened the strong historical bonds between the peoples of the various countries who were all regarded at that time as Commonwealth citizens.
He further recalled that this time-honoured practice was unilaterally jettisoned by the UK Government in 1985, thereby weakening the bonds of the Commonwealth family.
The Minister also noted that the proposed policy would definitely negate the joint commitment by Prime Minister David Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan to double the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries by 2014, just as it would hinder people-to-people contacts, which is one of the cardinal principles of the Commonwealth.
He however informed the British High Commissioner that the Federal Government of Nigeria has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced.
Speaking, the British High Commissioner however, assured the Minister and Nigerians that should his Home Government decides to go ahead with the plan, it will only affect a tiny percentage of visa applicants from Nigeria.
According to him, the cultural and business relationships between both countries are important to the British government that it will not deliberately do anything to strain the relationship.
The financial bonds being proposed intends to undertake a very small scale trial as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system, which the British Government noted occurs when some people overstay their visa terms.
He told the Minister, “I welcome the chance to set out the facts on so called “visa bonds.” The High Commissioner however, said the “details of a pilot scheme are still being worked out. No final decision has been made.
“If the pilot were to go ahead in Nigeria it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors. The vast majority would not be required to pay a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back, if they abided by the terms of their visa.
“Let me put this in perspective. Over 180,000 Nigerians apply to visit the UK each year. About 70% or around 125,000, of those applicants are successful. Travel between our two countries is a key part of our strong cultural and business relationship. Financial bonds would be focused on only a tiny minority of potential abusers. It would NOT be a “£3000 visa charge” as some media reporting has alleged.
“As soon as more details of the policy have been decided, we will inform the Nigerian Government and public fully and officially, in the spirit of our long standing friendship, and our wish to help bona fide Nigerian visitors to work, study or do business in the United Kingdom”.
