The Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States recently held a joint virtual town hall meeting with Nigerians across the country to address consular service issues, clarify government policies, and respond to concerns about the country’s image abroad. The meeting brought together the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., the Consulate General in New York, and the Consulate General in Atlanta, with hundreds of participants joining to raise questions on passports, visas, investment, trade, and the performance of the missions.
Acting Ambassador of Nigeria to the U.S., Samson Itegboje, announced that New York and Atlanta now each have a passport printer, while Washington, D.C. operates two. This development aims to reduce delays in processing passports, as staff from other missions previously had to travel to Washington for monthly passport printing. The installation of these printers is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve service delivery and tackle delays in passport processing.
Itegboje noted that last-minute applications by Nigerians often strain the missions’ capacity, saying, “Nigerians apply for passports, visas, and other consular services at the last hours and want us to do magic.” He emphasized that the meeting was meant to “hear Nigerians out, know their problems, and seek ways to address them.” The Consul-General in New York, Abubakar Jidda, urged Nigerians to balance criticism with constructive engagement, cautioning against “mischievous and injurious” portrayals of missions online.
Atlanta Consul-General, Auwalu Namadina, stressed that addressing Nigeria’s challenges “is not for some, but for everybody” and pledged to follow up on concerns about the Atlanta Consulate. He encouraged regular dialogue to build understanding and improve service delivery. Participants acknowledged improvements in mission operations and encouraged continued engagement. The meeting closed with an invitation for Nigerians in the U.S. to attend the 2025 Independence Day Parade and Carnival in New York in October.
The Federal Government’s efforts to improve passport services include the activation of a new Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, expected to begin operations soon. Additionally, the Ministry of Interior plans to expand the contactless passport application system, currently available in Canada, to more countries worldwide. These initiatives aim to streamline the passport application process, making it easier and faster for Nigerians to apply for and receive their passports.
