NIGERIANS IN BRITAIN ARE GOOD ASSET TO BRITISH ECONOMY

Speaking with the press, the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Arkwright Paul, said about 250,000 Nigerian citizens with Nigerian passports in the UK are contributing immensely to the Great Britain’s economy. Also that there are Nigerians who have been in the UK for many generations who are British nationals with Nigerian origin.He said further that Nigerians are wonderful, enterprising and enthusiastic people, and that they are a huge asset to the UK’s cultural and economic diversity. Stating that about 19, 000 Nigerians are currently studying in Britain "and I must add, most of them are doing very well in their various courses of study. In the first quarter of 2016, the British High Commission will host the 2014/2015 batch of Chevening scholars who’ve completed their Master’s programme to a reception.”

He also said Nigeria is full of rich resources that can make it become of the world’s best economy if properlly harnessed "from agriculture to its extractive industries. Even Nigeria’s creative industry which is growing in leaps and bounds could place the country in great shape on the economic front."

He said, “Politically, Nigeria would fare a lot better if individuals and institutions uphold the rule of law. If people and institutions play by laid down rules and refrain from circumventing the system, everyone would be better off for it. That’s a message that President (Muhammadu) Buhari has made very clear, and I strongly endorse it."

The High Commissioner however mentioned that last year, Nigeria and Britain signed a Prisoner Transfer Agreement that Nigerians who commit crimes in the UK, and Britons who commit crimes in Nigeria to serve their sentences in their respective countries where “they can be properly prepared for release into the community in which they will live following their release.”

He said not fewer than 500 Nigerians are currently serving jail terms in the UK as "of September 2015, there were approximately 500 Nigerians across UK prisons, and transfers are made following consent by both countries. There are something like two million Nigerians or people of Nigerian descent living legally, peacefully and contributing to the UK in many different ways."