As the countdown nears to the implementation of the United Kingdom visa bond for citizens of six countries including Nigeria and India, there is a twist as Britain's deputy prime minister said on Sunday he will try to block any
attempt to make foreign nationals visiting routinely to pay a security deposit to
come to the UK.Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said his Liberal Democrat party and its Conservative coalition partners had "differences of emphasis" on the plan, and details were still being discussed in government.
"I am absolutely not interested in a bond which becomes an
indiscriminate way of clobbering people who want to come to this
country," Clegg told the BBC. He said the bonds "are certainly not
going to go ahead" on that basis.
"Of course in a coalition I can stop things," he added.
The UK government plans to begin a pilot project in November involving "high-risk" countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Some visitors will have to pay a 3,000 pound ($4,800) deposit, which will be refunded upon departure but forfeited if travelers overstay their visas.
Nigerian politicians have also criticised the plan as "unacceptable" and pledged to stand up for their country's interests. "They should realise that it is not in the best interests of the UK," said Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, who chairs the foreign affairs committee in Nigeria's House of Representatives.
