“Nigeria Doesn’t Deserve Royal Visit,” British Journalist Criticizes Harry and Meghan

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced sharp criticism from British journalists following their recent visit to Nigeria. Kevin O’Sullivan, a presenter on TalkTV, openly condemned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip, suggesting that Nigeria is not a country deserving of such an endorsement, especially from members of the British royal family.

O’Sullivan criticized the couple’s decision, stating, “The royal family doesn’t just go anywhere. These tours are planned years in advance and the countries that the royals honour with their visits are very carefully chosen. There’s no way our royal family would set foot in Nigeria, a country where female genital mutilation is rife; where women’s rights basically don’t exist; and where hundreds of kids are regularly kidnapped by extremist Islamic groups.”

His comments were echoed by Michael Cole, a former BBC journalist and royal correspondent, who labeled Nigeria as a dangerous destination. “Nigeria, the foreign office and the American State Department both say it’s a dangerous destination, you must not go there. It vies with Johannesburg, South Africa to be the murder capital of the continent,” Cole remarked. He further criticized the country for rampant internet fraud and other crimes, expressing puzzlement over Prince Harry’s decision to visit.

This visit, intended to celebrate the Invictus Games, Harry’s tournament for wounded soldiers, has also drawn parallels to past royal visits. Despite the criticism, it is notable that King Charles III has visited Nigeria four times, most recently in 2018.