Britains today have shocked the world with their vote in favour of #Brexit. As the reality of the new phase for Britain sets in, I know a lot of people will be wondering what the whole thing means or entails, So, here is a little insight to what actually happened and how it is going to affect or no affect people.



What Actually happened?
A referendum, its a system of voting in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take part and it was on Thursday 23 June, to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union or Leave.
Leave won by 52% to 48% and the referendum turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. It was the highest turnout at a UK election since 1992.

What is the European Union?
The European Union referred to as the EU, is an economic and political partnership involving 28 European countries (See Full List of Countries In It HERE). This Union of countries began after the World War Two to foster economic co-operation, with the idea that countries which trade together are more likely to avoid going to war with each other and it worked as it has since grown to become a “single market” allowing goods and people to move around, basically as if the member states were one country. It has its own currency, the euro, which is used by 19 of the member countries, its own parliament and it now sets rules in a wide range of areas – including on the environment, transport, consumer rights and even things like mobile phone charges.

What happens to UK citizens working in the EU?
Now this depends on the kind of deal that UK and EU will reach, If it remains within the single market, it would almost certainly retain free movement rights, allowing UK citizens to work in the EU and vice versa. If the government opted to impose work permit restrictions, as UKIP wants, then other countries could reciprocate, meaning Britons would have to apply for visas to work.

How does it affect Non-British Nigerians?

1. Well, this kind of a good news to all those seeking to buy cheap pounds and the Pounds will and has crashed albeit temporarily. I would advise you to take the opportunity and go stock up on your pounds as they are now very cheap.

The same Visa and immigration process despite the Brexit will still remain the same. So, do not hurry to go and begin that UK visa process yet.

Well, for Football lovers, Champions League especially, there is no change. Everything will still be intact no need to worry about football nights at all.

How does it affect British Nigerians?
Now, here is the bad aspect of it to Nigerians that have the British citizenship. No more strolling from one European country to the other, Awwww, Now I feel sad for a friend in Austria, No more moving from Vienna to Paris, to Greece and the rest, Well, there is hope though, because like I stated up there, this depends now on the kind of deal UK will cut with EU.

Britain can now be able to exercise and flex their the tension and embargo on immigration especially for the Muslims.

Has any other member state ever left the EU?
No nation state has ever left the EU, and that’s why its a shock to the rest of the world. But Greenland, one of Denmark’s overseas territories, held a referendum in 1982, after gaining a greater degree of self government, and voted by 52% to 48% to leave, which it duly did after a period of negotiation. The BBC’s Carolyn Quinn visited Greenland at the end of last year to find out how they did it.



But then, not withstanding the fear-mongering tactics deployed by the #Remain and #Leave constituencies, not much will change. Britain’s economic interests actually supersede all political considerations. Britain joined the EU because of its economic benefits, so, I think they would not want to lose that but would rather play smart by agreeing to a kind of deal with EU that would favour their economic interest. European countries are their primary trading partners, and I do not anticipate that there will be a catastrophic change in the free movement of goods and services between the UK and the EU. So, am certain that goods will still be allowed to move freely from one country to the other, but that’s on goods and services alone, because I can’t say for sure on persons now because that will be a total different ball game, and that’s all thanks to the current terrorism tension in some of the European countries due to the free flow of immigrants.

Well, I will say that this should in a way serve as a learning points for Nigerians on how to conduct state issues. This decision was amicably taken with not even a drop of blood spilling, any group that wants to leave Nigeria should approach the issue the right way and am sure they will be no need for violence or killings that we see everyday. David Cameron resigned without even being pushed or told. Can that happen in this part of our world? Nigerians lets learn to follow the right channels in making our stand and opinions known and there will be peace and joy.


http://esther.com.ng/ebxclusive-brexit-what-it-means-and-how-it-affects-uk-citizens-and-nigerians/

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