Dr. Andrew Pocock, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has said the British government gives no fewer than 125,000 Nigerians visas every year.Pockock, while speaking at the Nigerian Stock Exchange this week, added that the British Govt. is currently reviewing the plan to introduce a £3,000 visa bond scheme for Commonwealth countries, which includes Nigeria.
The scheme, Pockock continued, will not be a threat to Nigerians because even if it is implemented it, will affect only a fraction of Nigerians who apply for UK visas.
“The visa bond, as it is being called here, is not a £3,000 charge for a British Visa. That is not the case, it is not going to happen now and it is not going to happen in the future. Visa fee, which is what you pay for a visa, will not go to £3,000 or anywhere near it,” Pockock assured.
A few months ago, there were reports that the British Govt. has implemented the £3,000 scheme as a measure to control the influx of Nigerians coming to the UK.
This development was greeted by a public outcry in Nigeria, and there speculations that if the rule stands, Nigerian Govt. too will enact similar law against British citizens coming to Nigeria.
But Pockock has allays the fears, saying that “we have made it very clear to our government in London that there is concern about this. So, this is being reviewed and considered in London as we speak now.
“If we decide that this will become a policy we will tell, firstly Nigerian government and secondly, the Nigerian people, so everyone has all the information they need. This is not a major threat to Nigerians coming to the UK; that I can guarantee.”
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