Visa Ban: Britain Replies Nigeria, Says ‘We Determine Who Enters The UK’
The British Government has expressed shock at the Nigerian Government’s response to its threat to impose visa restriction or seize overseas assets of election offenders in the country.
The UK Embassy in Nigeria had recently said it was, “deploying observation missions to both the Edo and Ondo elections and supporting civil society led observation, “ adding that, “The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and, just as we did in the general election in 2019, will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during the elections.”
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The UK had stressed that, “This could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK-based assets or prosecution under international law.”
But the Nigerian Government had frowned at the threat and accused the British Government of disrespecting its sovereignty. Nigeria’s reaction was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
But responding on Thursday, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, said the UK reserved the right to determine who enters its country.
Laing spoke at an orientation programme for people with disability seeking Chevening scholarship in Abuja, reports The SUN.
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She 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.”
Meanwhile, some experts have attributed the general peaceful conduct of the September 19 Edo State governorship election to the U.S. and UK’s threats of visa restriction to election offenders.
