British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock has said the British government
is reviewing its plan to introduce a visa bond scheme.
He also said while there were security concerns in the country, they were not overwhelming
in many respects and could be managed.
Pocock said this on Wednesday when he visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to ring the
closing bell and to discuss ways in which more British companies could be encouraged to
invest in the capital market.
The British government had proposed a new scheme under which some visitors from six
commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, would be asked to pay a £3,000 cash bond in
return for visas that allows them to stay in the UK for up to six months.
The development had resulted in an outcry by nationals of the affected countries with the
Nigerian government calling on its British counterpart to rescind the policy.
Speaking with journalists after ringing the closing bell at the NSE, the British High
Commissioner said, “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.”
-Obiora Arinze
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