Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri
The federal government yesterday warned foreign missions in Nigeria
demanding payment for visas and consular services in foreign currencies
to stop the practice forthwith.
The practice, it said, violated Nigeria's sovereignty.
Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, at a meeting with members of the diplomatic corps in Abuja, described the practice as unacceptable and illegal.
Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, at a meeting with members of the diplomatic corps in Abuja, described the practice as unacceptable and illegal.
She said: "It has come to our notice that some diplomatic and consular
missions in Nigeria choose to charge visa and other consular fees in
foreign currencies. This is totally unacceptable and must be stopped
forthwith.
"Charging fees in foreign currencies is an illegal act that clearly
violates the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No
self-respecting nation can accept such a flagrant assault on the symbol
of its nation-hood."
The British High Commission in Nigeria recently announced that payment
for visa applications would only be accepted in dollars, using Verve
debit card, Visa, Master Card credit, debit cards or the e-wallet
PAGA.
In a statement to announce the new practice, the high commission had
said: "The move to online application and payments will deliver a
streamlined application process consistent with a wider global trend to
online transactions and payments which met the requirements of the UK
Government’s digital by default initiative.
Other embassies such as the United States and German accept their visa fees in naira equivalent of the amount specified in their currencies.
Onwuliri also spoke on the planned one-day summit on Nigeria's centenary celebration, emphasising that it would provide a special opportunity to rejoice and reflect on the journey so far.
Other embassies such as the United States and German accept their visa fees in naira equivalent of the amount specified in their currencies.
Onwuliri also spoke on the planned one-day summit on Nigeria's centenary celebration, emphasising that it would provide a special opportunity to rejoice and reflect on the journey so far.
The centenary celebration, she said, is expected to reposition the
country for national transformation in order to realise its potential
for future growth and development.
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