The policy requires Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom to produce a cash bond of N730,000 (3,000 pounds, $4,600 or 3,500 euros) before they enter the UK, as they were among country nationals deemed to pose a "high risk" of immigration abuse.
The Presidency and the National Assembly have also reacted.Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, assured all Nigerians that "the Jonathan government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means we can. So, when we get their proposal, we will study it and we will see how we can guide the ordinary Nigerians," Ashiru said.
Also, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, has also condemned the new British visa policy, saying it is discriminatory and unacceptable.
Chairman of the committee, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, in a statement issued in Abuja, said such policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
"This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is targeted at non-white Commonwealth", she said.
What is your take on this latest development? Do you agree with Ukeje that the new UK visa policy is discriminatory? Should the federal government come up with a counter policy? Will it curtail the influx of Nigerians to the UK?
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i think the new policy is not fair, i leave in the UK and still get racist abuse from there people.i believe we should also take steps in introducing our own policy: if a UK national is coming to Nigeria be it work related or tourism they should also be made to make the same deposit.
ReplyDeleteI don't see what the fuss is about this new policy. Its quite simple: return when due and collect your money. We all know how Nigerians have violated the conditions of their stay. Some Nigerians go there to use their medical facilities without paying, and just disappear. Over the years, the Nigerian govt has had the chance to make things right by making this country better. All their talk of "retaliating" is BS. A country where foreign govts have already warned their citizens against visiting, and u're talking of "retaliating". We're practically begging for tourists and foreign investors, so who loses out if we do "retaliate"?. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteShhhhh....Please look before you think,and think before you talk.#BrotherlyAdvice!!!
DeleteI do not support the new UK visa policy because it is discriminatory. I am confident that the new UK visa policy on immigration will not succeed in the European Court of Human Right (ECHR).
ReplyDeleteAs a first rule, ECHR Article 8 (Right to Respect for Private and Family Life) will be violated if the visitor has a spouse or resident family member legally in the UK.
As a second rule, ECHR Article 14 (Prohibition on Discrimination) will be violated in some ways.
This is why I like the European Court of Human Right, a competent court where many UK immigration laws have been curbed. A notable example is the Surinder Singh case. The outcome of the Surinder Singh case has now given a huge precedent for non-EU immigrants to enter the UK.
The summary of it all is that the UK government will be breaking the Human Right law if they go ahead with the new immigration policy. They will back-pedal before the pilot stage and the new policy will die slowly.
@Tunde Oni:
ReplyDeleteIt goes beyond what you just mentioned.
1. We all know the UK charges one form of administrative charge or the other, you will not get exactly your 3,000 pounds back.
2. You need to work in major multinationals in Nigeria to know the number of britons that come into Nigeria everyday.
3. It will not deter those who break the rule, they will only add 3,000 extra to the travel cost for them to travel to 'Jand'.
4. Its additional time wasted during your trip, especially for those that want to go with their family on holiday to the UK.
Tunde Oni, it goes beyond what you said. Medical facilities are accessed, not on credit, by those who are legally in the country. If they want Nigerians to pay to visit, then they too should pay to come to Nigeria QED. Afterall, they benefit more from Nigeria.
ReplyDelete