News
VISA BAN: ‘We determine who visits our country,’ British govt replies FG
The British government on Thursday expressed surprise at its Nigerian counterpart’s reaction to the recent move to bring sanity into the country electoral process.
The United Kingdom had last week threatened to impose a visa ban and asset seizure on perpetrators of election fraud in the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.
But the Federal Government had in its reaction described disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty, moves by any outside authority to sit in judgment over the conduct of its citizens and apply punitive measures unilaterally.
However, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, who addressed participants at an orientation programme for people with disability seeking Chevening scholarship opportunities in the UK, made it clear that the imposition of a visa restriction on perpetrators of electoral violence was the UK’s visa policy.
READ ALSO: ‘Sanctioning of electoral offenders disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty,’ FG tells US, UK
She noted that the policy determines who travels to the UK.
Laing said: “It is our visa policy, the UK, and we can determine who comes to the UK. So, that is a non-sovereign right.
“And all we are saying is that in line with Nigerian policy, that those who commit violence or who incite violence, there may be an implication for that person when they apply for a visa in the UK.
So, I think it is actually completely consistent with the Nigerian policy. This is our visa policy, but obviously, it is for Nigeria to determine how they deal with these perpetrators in Nigeria.”
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...