(PANA)
Lagos, Nigeria- Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has explained that 53 citizens of the country were deported from the UK last week because they have either overstayed their visas or completed their prison terms for various offences.
The clarification, in a statement by the ministry, followed the sensationalization of the deportation by the local media, which insinuated it was similar to the deportation of the 125 Nigerians by the South African authorities for allegedly carrying fake Yellow Fever vaccination documentation, an action that precipitated a diplomatic row between the two nations earlier this month.
Saying only 53 Nigerians, and not 120 as reported in the local media, were deported from Britain, the ministry said the action was in line with the pact between the two countries.
“Deportation of Nigerians from the UK is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration Returns which was concluded between the two countries a few years ago,'' it said. “Under the terms of the MoU, Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in the UK and have exhausted all local remedies and legal appeals are subject to removal from the country.''
The ministry said the whole process was monitored by very senior officials of the Nigerian High Commission in London, adding: “It is not as if Nigeria is condoning the deportation of its citizens. Those who have valid visas and earn income legitimately in the UK have nothing to fear.”
Nigeria has vowed to respond in kind to any country that treats Nigerians with disrespect, after it pressured South Africa, through a tit-for-tat deportation of its citizens, to issuing an apology for the deportation of the 125 Nigerians.
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