The British High Commission in Nigeria has, however, clarified that no final decision has been made

UK s £3,000 visa bond discriminatory FG Home About Us Advertise With Us contact us Friday June 28th, 2013 Friday June 28th, 2013 Follow @vanguardngrnews TRANSLATE::: Home News Business Finance Technology Politics Sports Entertainment Awo vs Achebe Style Fashion Flair Fashion Personality My Style Allure Viewpoint Editorial Forum Jobs UK s £3,000 visa bond discriminatory FG on June 26, 2013 /
The Federal Government, yesterday, described as discriminatory and capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth family, the proposed new UK visa policy requesting visitors from Nigeria to post a £3,000 bond before entering the UK. Tweet
BY BY OKEY NDIRIBE, VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG, JOSEPH ERUNKE VICTORIA OJEME A BUJA — The Federal Government, yesterday, described as discriminatory and capable of undermining cheap last minute american airlines tickets the spirit of the Commonwealth family, the proposed new UK visa policy requesting visitors from Nigeria to post a £3,000 bond before entering the UK.
The Nigerian cheap last minute american airlines tickets government has, therefore, asked the British government to reconsider the proposed policy, saying it is incompatible with the strong and cordial relations built over the years between the UK and Nigeria.
The Federal Government also assured cheap last minute american airlines tickets its British counterpart that it has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who might be affected by the proposed policy, if finally cheap last minute american airlines tickets introduced.
The British High Commission in Nigeria has, however, clarified that no final decision has been made on the matter. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocok, made the clarification when he honoured the summons on him by Foreign Affairs cheap last minute american airlines tickets Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, to express Nigeria's displeasure over the  proposed visa bond of £3,000 for intending visitors cheap last minute american airlines tickets to UK from Nigeria.
A statement from the ministry, signed by its spokesman, Ogbole Ode, confirming the meeting, said: "At the meeting which was held at the Tafawa Balewa House, the minister expressed  strong displeasure of the government and people cheap last minute american airlines tickets of Nigeria over the policy, which he described as not only discriminatory but also capable cheap last minute american airlines tickets of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth family.
The minister recalled with nostalgia, the times when nationals of the Commonwealth cheap last minute american airlines tickets travelled freely to the UK and to other member states. This, no doubt, cheap last minute american airlines tickets deepened the strong historical bonds among the peoples of the various cheap last minute american airlines tickets countries who were all regarded at that time as Commonwealth citizens. He further recalled that this time-honoured practice was unilaterally jettisoned cheap last minute american airlines tickets by the UK government in 1986, thereby weakening the bonds of the Commonwealth family.
"The minister further opined that the proposed policy would definitely negate the joint commitment by Prime Minister David Cameron cheap last minute american airlines tickets and President Goodluck Jonathan to double the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries by 2014, just as it would hinder people-to-people contacts, which is one of the cardinal principles of the Commonwealth.
"Ambassador Ashiru said the decision of the UK Government is coming at a time the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers have unanimously recommended for adoption at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, holding cheap last minute american airlines tickets in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November, a proposal to remove visa requirements for holders of official and diplomatic passports from member states.
He, however, informed the British High Commissioner that the Federal Government of Nigeria has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced.
According to him, "the details of a pilot scheme are still being worked out. No final decision has been made. If the pilot were to go ahead in Nigeria it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors.The vast majority would not be required to pay for a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back, if they abided by the terms of their visa.
"Let me put this in perspective. cheap last minute american airlines tickets Over 180,000 Nigerians cheap last minute american airlines tickets apply to visit the UK each year. About 70 per cent or around 125,000 of those applicants are successful. Travel between our two countries cheap last minute american airlines tickets is a key part of our strong cultural and business relationships. Financial bonds would be focused on only a tiny minority of potential abusers. It would not be a £3000 visa charge as some media reporting has alleged.
"As soon as more details of the policy have been decided, we will inform the Nigerian government and public fully and officially, in the spirit of our long standing friendship and our wish to help bonafide cheap last minute american airlines tickets Nigerian visitors to work, study,or do business cheap last minute american airlines tickets in the United Kingdom.
In its reaction, yesterday, the Senate said it rejects the proposed UK visa policy, threatening that it would push for similar treatment for UK citizens in Nigeria or those seeking entry into the country by the time Nigeria is officially notified of the new development.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Matthew Nwagwu, cheap last minute american airlines tickets PDP, Imo North, told Vanguard that Nigeria would not hesitate to subject UK immigrants in Nigeria to the same fate but said the payback cheap last minute american airlines tickets would only commence when the country was formally communicated.
His words: cheap last minute american airlines tickets "I want to say that I have heard about this proposed policy cheap last minute american airlines tickets by the United Kingdom government but I must tell you that I have not received any official statement from the UK or Foreign Affairs Ministry. When we get the official position of UK regarding this, whether it's a law or policy or whether it is an instrument that passes through the parliament, then one can make a very precise comment on it.
But as a Nigerian, I have to say that any government, including the UK government has the right to make a law that will protect cheap last minute american airlines tickets its interest. So it's left to Nigeria cheap last minute american airlines tickets also to make laws that will protect Nigerian citizens' interests also. When they inform us officially on this policy, we will sit down to study it and then respond to them officially. We will not accept it if Nigeria is branded among countries they are targeting and we will respond to them in that order. That is what we call reciprocity.
But he advised Nigerians trooping to the United cheap last minute american airlines tickets Kingdom to begin to think of alternative travel destinations, saying: "If the policy comes into effect, it's left to Nigerians also to begin to find alternative to travel destinations.
He said: "If the Britons are judging us like that, then, that is their own judgment. We have many Britons, many UK people living in Nigeria and they are moving about freely and doing their businesses. At times, you want to refer to situations in some parts of the North, and say yes, that may have been the reason they are coming up with this but Nigeria generally is calm and peaceful and many foreigners are doing their work and businesses.
"So, to classify Nigeria as one of the countries posing security threats is out of the way. And like I have said earlier, you have to look at your friend properly, to know whether he is the friend you know or not. Britain should even be the one to properly understand Nigeria cheap last minute american airlines tickets and her problems and then help us in whatever way they can. I am sure they are helping but if they impose law on Nigeria, then that questions our continued relationship in this country.
"Again, if this is true, then we will have to begin to think of how to  reciprocate. That is my position on this. I have told you about the principle of reciprocity. That is what it means.  Normally, if Nigeria is threatened in a shady way and Nigerians are excluded from a country, then, Nigeria must find a way to respond. Whatever that response cheap last minute american airlines tickets should be, it's up to the government to decide."
The two labour centres in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, said the policy was unacceptable and called on the government to respond with stiffer cheap last minute american airlines tickets measure should diplomacy fail to resolve it.
According to him, "we are in a global village. No country should cheap last minute american airlines tickets feel it is more important than the other. If diplomatic cheap last minute american airlines tickets efforts are unable to resolve it, Nigeria should retaliate and impose same fine on British citizens coming to Nigeria. It should cheap last minute american airlines tickets be tit for tat.
He said: "If economy is not doing well, it should not impose cheap last minute american airlines tickets such fine on Nigerians to make their economy to recover. Nigerians visiting Britain are already contributing to the recovery of British economy through tourism and the hotels they lodge among others. This is pure racism and apartheid. It is unacceptable. Nigeria should look for areas that will hit the British Government severely to punish Britain, it could be oil. Nigerian cheap last minute american airlines tickets government should not accept it. It is pure apartheid."
In his reaction, founder of Oodua Peoples Congress, cheap last minute american airlines tickets OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun said: "What Britain has done is good because I see it as a challenge to Nigeria. The nation should also increase its visa fees.
What is stopping Nigeria from responding to Britain action for action cheap last minute american airlines tickets and word for word? We don't need to be apologetic over this or cry over it, because cheap last minute american airlines tickets this is international diplomacy. What is expected of this nation in this circumstance is to also show that it is a sovereign nation by coming up with a response to it. I know that not all the  British people living in this country are desirable. Some don't even have valid documents and are undesirable. cheap last minute american airlines tickets Who are the people stealing our oil?
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, to brief the lawmakers on the planned policy of the British Government.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Warman Ogoriba (PDP) representing Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State who spoke to Vanguard in a telephone interview last night said Britain had the right to introduce any policy to safeguard the interest of its citizens and economy.
According to him, "inasmuch as I believe that the policy about to be introduced by Britain is unfair to Nigeria and other countries that are affecte