Catriona Laing, Nigeria 's British High Commissioner, has replied to the federal government 's comment on the statement of visa restriction by the UK government to perpetrators of electoral abuse.

Speaking on Thursday September 24 at an orientation program for people with disabilities pursuing Chevening scholarship opportunities in the UK, Laing said the issue of visa limitation on perpetrators of electoral violence was the policy of her country.

The High Commissioner, who expressed surprise at the reaction of the federal government to the visa restriction threat, claimed that the federal government welcomed its policy prior to the 2019 general election.

Laing said;

“It is our visa policy, the UK, and we can determine who comes to the UK. So, that is a non-sovereign right.

“And all we are saying is that in line with the Nigerian policy, that those who commit violence or who incite violence, there may be an implication for that person when they apply for a visa to the UK.

“So, I think it is actually completely consistent with the Nigerian policy.

“This is our visa policy, but obviously, it is for Nigeria to determine how they deal with these perpetrators in Nigeria."