UK Drops £3,000 Visa Entry Bond On Nigerians

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spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Abuja, Mr Ode Ogbole, replied with text message saying: “It’s been rescinded”.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 Well am happy they thought it over and rescinded.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.