The
United Kingdom has aborted its plan to place a £3,000 bond on
Nigerians seeking entry to the country, a spokesman for Nigeria’s
Foreign Affairs Ministry told Daily Trust in Abuja yesterday.
The
Sunday Times of London had quoted UK Home Secretary Theresa May as
saying that a pilot scheme that would target visitors from India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana would take off in
November under which travellers from those countries would pay a cash
deposit of £3,000 to deter immigration abuse. They will forfeit the
money if they overstay their visas.
But
when contacted for comments yesterday, spokesman for the Foreign
Affairs Ministry in Abuja, Mr Ode Ogbole, replied with text message
saying: “It’s been rescinded”. He did not give further details
and did not answer subsequent telephone calls.
Another
official of the ministry who chose to remain anonymous also told
Daily Trust that a message from the UK government rescinding the plan
had been sent to the Presidency.
Earlier
yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru told journalists
at the ministerial platform commemorating the mid-term anniversary of
the Jonathan administration that no official communication had been
received from the British government by Nigeria on the subject.
He
assured Nigerians of government’s readiness to defend and protect
them all over the world but urged them to always conduct themselves
in a manner that will portray Nigeria in good image.
Then no fear. Their economy go just coro. Well am happy they thought it over and rescinded. Win win for everybody.
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