Governor expressed displeasure that the UK authorities, which already set November as the discriminatory policy’s commencement time, had not formally communicate to it on the next step of action.
“If and when a communication to that effect is received, the Federal Government will take appropriate steps to reflect its national interest. ”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, 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 in Abuja, that the British authorities were already aware of the Federal Government’s position on the matter.
The statement reads, “Media reports in Nigeria on Monday 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. 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. This was done when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ashiru, summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Pocock, to the Tafawa Balewa House, on June 25, 2013."
Anyway, UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman defended the policy, saying it was clear that it was “already working” as some illegal immigrants had voluntarily agreed to leave the UK.
No comments:
Post a Comment