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The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York has started installing machines to produce passports with 10 years of validity for its nationals.
The Consul-General, Amb. Lot Egopija announced this at the virtual 5th Town Hall Meeting with the Nigerian Community within the New York jurisdiction.
Egopija had during the February Town Hall meeting said that the Consulate had communicated with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would soon start the process of issuance of the passport.
“In the last meeting, we informed you that the enhanced 10-year passport process would soon come to New York.
“The Vice-Consul in charge of Immigration will inform you better when this will take off, but a team is already on the mission today.
“To this end, we have expanded the second floor and it will be the hub of our activities. We are bringing all the biometrics machines to the same floor,’’ he said.
Egopija, however, urged the nationals who have not enrolled for National Identity Number (NIN) to do so, noting that without the number it would be impossible to get the passport.
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“We have published NIN centres and those responsible should also inform the Consulate so that we can pass the information to our nationals,’’ he said.
The envoy said the Consulate was doing everything possible to ensure that the nationals get improved services.
He said the mission had just embarked on passport intervention in Michigan, noting that more than 450 applicants enrolled for the intervention.
On cultural matters, he said the Consulate had partnered with Bayelsa indigenes within its jurisdiction on cultural shows as there were plans to combine trade and cultural events together.
In addition, Egopija urged the nationals to do diligent work before bringing their documents for authentication, noting that the Consulate still had records of some people bringing fake documents for authentication.
“We will always insist on doing the right thing. I‘m encouraging Nigerians to do the right thing and any Nigerian in doubt, let them call and ask us.
“We are always available in rending assistance in this regard. We want to be sure that documents presented or certified by this mission are authentic and that doubts are not cast,’’ he said.
(NAN)
