The Federal Government on Tuesday has said they will retaliate action against British citizens if bond is imposed on visitors from Nigeria and five other Commonwealth countries especially as they have formally informed by the UK Government.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, had at a meeting with the British High Commissioner, Andrew Pocock, conveyed the desire of Nigeria to retaliate the policy. The spokesperson for the ministry , Ogbole Ode, said in a statement;
“Media reports in Nigeria on Monday, July 29, 2013, indicated that the United Kingdom Government will begin to implement from November, 2013, the £3,000 cash bond for first-time visa applicants from Nigeria, and five other Commonwealth countries. The other countries are India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. These media reports themselves were quoting the Financial Times of London.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to receive any official communication on the final decision of the UK government on this matter. The Federal Government has already conveyed its objection to the bond payment to the UK government.
“If and when a communication to that effect is received, the Federal Government will take appropriate steps to reflect its national interest. ”
When contacted, the spokesman for the British High Commission in Abuja, Rob Fitzpatrick, said,
“No final decision has been made” on the controversial policy.As British Prime Minister David Cameron has said, we want the brightest and the best to help create the jobs and growth that will enable Britain to compete in the global race. So, for example, if you are an overseas businessman seeking to invest and trade with world class businesses, one of the thousands of legitimate students keen to study at our first-class universities or a tourist visiting our world class attractions, be in no doubt: Britain is open for business.”
Meanwhile, apart from keeping certain people out of the UK by this bond, they are trying to get illegal immigrants out of Britain as two trucks, each displaying a large poster with a number for migrants to send text messages if they desired to return to their countries , were seen in six London for a week. Posters, leaflets and advertisements in newspapers would be used to further promote the campaign, a pilot scheme by the interior ministry. a campaign advising illegal immigrants to “go home or face arrest.”
But Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman defended the campaign, saying it was clear that it was “already working” as some illegal immigrants had voluntarily agreed to leave the UK.
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