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According to PUNCH, the British high commission in Nigeria said the UK provides protection to those who need it, in response to the federal government’s criticism of the move.
TheCable had published an exclusive report that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) had released new guidelines on how to treat asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist groups.
In the guidelines, asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members of MASSOB and IPOB, which had been designated as a terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
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But Lai Mohammed, minister of information,
had kicked against the move which he said amounts to sabotaging Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
Biafra: We need referendum, not asylum, IPOB replies UK govt
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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it wants a referendum on self-determination for the south-east of Nigeria, not asylum offered by the government of United Kingdom.
You would recall that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) released new guidelines on how to treat asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist groups.
In the guidelines, asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members of the proscribed IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The Federal Government had on Tuesday said that the reported decision of United Kingdom to grant asylum to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation.
IPOB/MASSOB members’ asylum: FG may summon British envoy, Ohanaeze, Afenifere back UK
The Federal Government on Tuesday expressed anger over a plan by the United Kingdom to offer asylum to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said the plan was disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation.
Mohammed stated this as there were indications on Tuesday that the Federal Government might summon the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, over the asylum offer.
Lai Mohammed, Information Minister
The Federal Government on Tuesday expressed anger over a plan by the United Kingdom to offer asylum to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said the plan was disrespectful to Nigeria as a nation.
Mohammed stated this as there were indications on Tuesday that the Federal Government might summon the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, over the asylum offer.
Press zooms in on government’s reaction to planned asylum to IPOB members, others Nigeria-Press-Review April 21, 2021 to 09:21 269 APA – Lagos (Nigeria) The reaction of the Nigerian Government to the plan by the United Kingdom to offer asylum to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday.
The Punch reports that the Nigerian Government on Tuesday expressed anger over a plan by the United Kingdom to offer asylum to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra.