Nigerians in USA complain about passport renewal challenge.
– Steve Ovirih.
Nigerians resident in the United States of America have raised the alarm over the arduous experiences they are encountering in the Nigerian passport offices, Nigerian embassy across United States.
In an exclusive chat with a Nigerian in The Diaspora , Prince Markson Ayeku , who is a Board member of Better Nigeria USA ( BNU), he noted thus, ” the issue of Nigerian passport both new and Renewal is becoming unbearable. It’s time for this reputable face of Nigeria in the USA – Better Nigeria USA- to develop an intervention to end these disgraceful acts either from the Federal Government of Nigeria or the Nigerian embassy staff in the States.
” For instance, I called New – York Consulate a few weeks ago to make an appointment to renew my passport that will expire in August 2021. I was shocked when the officer told me that the earliest appointment time is October 2021, claiming that they already have too many applications ahead of time. All these are ways of extortion,” Ayeku said.
He regretted the fact that the ugly trend of corruption that has become the bane of development in Nigeria is fast rearing its ugly head at the Nigerian embassy in the USA. ” We are complaining about Nigeria’s system of corruption , what can we call this mal- practises in our nation’s embassy in the US now? Meanwhile , the problem is not only in New- York ; it also applied to other embassies like Atlanta Georgia and other Nigerian embassies across the USA.”
While noting that urgent steps must be taken to stem this corrupt tide which could put Nigerians in the USA at a serious disadvantage when their passport expires , Prince Ayeku called on Nigerian stakeholders in the USA, particularly Better Nigeria USA to suggest the way forward and how to get Nigerians in the States out of the embarrassing contraption they may find themselves when the embassy offices will begin to give the danger signal of a failure to promptly procure passports for Nigerians in America. ” I will advise the BNU Executive members under our able President , Dr. Salewa Olafioye and the Executive Council to write a comprehensive memo to the Federal Government and push our complaints through all the available news media.
” We can’t afford to fold our arms why Nigerian Offices maltreat us on what is supposed to be an easy and quick action once you fill your application online and make payment without having to travel to the embassy for physical processing.”
Ayeku maintained that Nigerians in the USA seeking passport renewal or wanting to procure new ones need not go through stress of any kind because all the processes and requirement have been digitalised , adding that it becomes a difficult task because of the attendant corruption being methodically fused into the processing by the embassy staff.
” We have to emulate other countries on passport /visa processing ; we don’t deserve the punishment, overspending and more extended period because of passport or visa,” Prince Markson Ayeku added.
Another Nigerian in Atlanta Georgia who preferred anonymity bitterly lamented the disgrace that the embassy workers are giving Nigeria over the passport renewal malpractices going on in the Nigerian embassy, Atlanta. The fellow said the embassy in Atlanta is chaos personified as a simple task of passport renewal has been turned to a charade where over eight hundred and thirty dollars are paid to sort out the staff of the embassy after the official rates have been paid. He said Nigerians stay in the sun for hours after a long drive or flight from their respective places to the embassy office. He noted that the services of the passport office has become for the highest bidder , calling on the National Assembly, the Agency on Diaspora relations and key agent of Government to correct this nasty trend before it permanently brand the nation as a country of unserious people who fleece their own people and subject them to abject inconveniences for pecuniary gains.
” lesser countries like Benin Republic, Ghana, Senegal, Togo all provide convenience for their citizens in the USA and all they need do if their passports expire is to mail it to their embassies and pronto the renewal is done and get mailed back to the citizens. But the Nigerian office is different and this is a brought forward of the corrupt stride back at home. This development is giving Nigeria a bad name here in the US and our Government back at home should show prompt interest and come to our aid, ” the Nigerian resident of Georgia pleaded.
