The National Mirror reports|| Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, yesterday in Abuja directed foreign missions collecting visa fees in foreign currencies in the country to immediately stop the ‘illegal practice.’
Onwuliri gave the directive during a meeting with members of the diplomatic corps on Nigeria’s centennial celebrations scheduled for next year. She was quoted as saying;
It has actually come to our notice that some diplomatic and consular missions now 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 this great nation. No self-respecting nation can accept such a flagrant assault on the symbol of its nationhood, therefore, we appeal to you not to be caught on the wrong side of the law
The acting minister’s stern rebuke came on the heels of the announcement by the British High Commission that visa fees would now be paid in United States’ dollars from December 16.