by John Okeke
The Nigeria High Commission in London has bemoaned the migration and removal policy of the UK Government, which has placed a deportation tag on 29,000 Nigerians.
The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in London, Mr Olukunle Bamgbose, gave the indication in his office when he spoke with State House Correspondents covering Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to London.
He said that the migration policy was a result of the migration crisis created by the troubled regions in the world.
“I think about 29,000 Nigerians have been designated to be deported. We are insisting that due process must be followed before Nigerians are really removed from the UK to Nigeria,” he said.
Bamgbose gave four conditions that should be met by the UK immigration office before the commission could accept the migration and deportation agenda.
“First, we must ensure that they are really Nigerians; they are medically fit to travel; all the legal processes must have been completed and that they have roles to play in Nigeria.
“You do not expect someone who has not been to Nigeria for 30 years to 40 years, and does not have any family. If he is deported, he will constitute social problems to us in Nigeria; so these are the sore points that we have at the moment,” the envoy said.
Bamgbose noted that in spite of the challenge, the relationship between Nigeria and UK had deepened, adding that the UK is ready to engage with Nigerians in various aspects- defence, immigration, trade and investment.
“In 2012, the trade volume between the two countries was about four billion pounds, which has doubled now. But with what we have now, British investors are ready to move into Nigeria in a massive way.”
“I expect that in the next two to three years, the trade volume will triple and go to about 12 billion pounds or even more.”
Bamgbose attributed the rise to the new confidence foreign investors had in Nigeria to the new administration.
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