Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday warned that if in spite of protests from the Federal Government, the British government implemented the 3,000 pounds visa bond against Nigerians, the country would reciprocate.
Ashiru, while briefing the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, explained that implementing the proposal would be discriminatory against Nigerians and run contrary the spirit of the Commonwealth of Nations.
He stated that as soon as government got the information, it petitioned the appropriate organ in the UK, stressing that “we will take appropriate measures to protect our citizens should the UK implement the visa regime.”
He also condemned foreign countries that had been mounting pressure on government to legalise gay marriages, stressing that it was not part of our culture and religion and that those countries had no right to meddle in the internal affairs of Nigeria.
Ashiru, who condemned corruption in its ramifications, stated that Nigeria was already studying the circumstances behind the sacking of Justice Wowo as the Chief Justice of Gambian Supreme Court, adding that if a vindictive act against the judge was established, Nigeria would make a case in his defence.
On Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, the minister said due to the transparency of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and interests generated, over $8.9 billion FDIs has been attracted to the country.
He listed the $250 million turbine manufacturing plant in Calabar by the General Electric of US; the $1 billion Procter & Gamble pharmaceutical plant in Agbara, Ogun State; the $500 million soft loan from China for light rail in Abuja and a 50-bed capacity hospital donated by China among the FDI commitments made this year.
Ashiru also identified power generation efforts, successes recorded in infrastructure development, agriculture, engineering, science and technology as well as in foreign diplomacy as some of the strides attained by the administration.
He also spoke on the peacekeeping operations and other interventions in Gambia, Chad, Niger, Congo and several other countries, stressing that Nigeria accorded priority to peace in the neighbouring countries to avoid a spill- over of militant activity that could worsen the security situation in the country.
On the number of Nigerians in foreign prisons, Ashiru explained that available statistics put the figure at 9,500, but that the Nigerian embassies had been directed to visit the prisoners even as said that they had been directed to hold regular meetings with Nigerians in the Diaspora on matters concerning their welfare.
Source: National Mirror
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