Nigerian Government has said that the recently introduced policy by the British High Commission and some Foreign Missions, mandating Nigerian visa applicants to pay in foreign currencies is not acceptable.
The Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, made the Nigerian government’s position known on Thursday during a meeting with the members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja.
According to her, such policy is illegal and a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty. She therefore, directed the concerned Missions to drop the policy forthwith and allow Nigerians to pay for visa and other consular charges in naira.
Prof Onwuliri, spoke during a meeting with the members of the diplomatic corps on the planned one-day summit-level conference to mark the celebration of Nigeria’s centenary.
The Minister said, “I would like to raise an issue of deep concern to the Federal Government. It has come to our notice that some diplomatic and consular missions in Nigeria to charge visa and other consular fees in foreign currencies. This is totally unacceptable and must be stopped forthwith.
“Charging fees in foreign currencies is an illegal act that clearly violates the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No self-respecting nation can accept such a flagrant assault on the symbol of its nationhood.”
Prompt News Online recalls that recently, the British High Commission introduced a new policy, mandating all applications for a United Kingdom’s visa must be done online including payment which must also be in the US Dollars.
The Political and Press & Public Affairs Officer at the British High Commission, Rob Fitzpatrick, had said the online transactions and payments were in line with the requirements of the UK Government’s Digital by Default initiative.
