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Nigerian missions abroad to start delivering passports by mail – Official
The Nigerian missions will soon commence delivering passports to its nationals through courier to eliminate the stress Nigerians go through to visit the missions to keep interview appointments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
The Permanent Secretary, Amb. Gabriel Aduda, told newsmen in New York that the ministry was already discussing with some courier companies to pilot the scheme.
“We have started with a new innovation and we are trying to keep Nigerians from traveling to missions for passport renewal.
“We are already talking with some courier companies that will pick passports to the applicants’ doorsteps when they have made all the necessary payments and fill the forms online.
“We don’t want them to come to the missions anymore; it will be delivered to them and we have four Consulates to pilot the innovation,’’ he said.
Aduda, while reacting to questions from a hybrid Town Hall meeting organised by the Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York for nationals within its jurisdiction, Aduda assured Nigerians living in the U.S. of improved passport services.
NAN reports that some Nigerians raised issues bothering on improved services on visa, passport issuance, delivery and the need to get emergency travel certificates, among others.
The permanent secretary, in his intervention, urged Nigerian missions to make town hall meetings a regular feature, adding that without Nigerians in any country, there will not be any need for a mission.
He said holding regular meetings with nationals would enable Nigerians hold the Consulates accountable while assuring the consulate in New York of the ministry’s support for sustaining the town hall.
Reacting to backlogs of passports, Aduda said that COVID-19 pandemic came with dry spell in the production of passports, adding that it created a problem in all the missions across the world.
“In London alone, they had a shortfall of 19,000 passports and they tried to cover the lost ground. Initially, 10,000 passports were injected and we put more until they were cleared.
“The same thing in New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta; we have a huge gap that we are still ready to fill. Also, back home in Nigeria, it is the same problem.
“People applied for passports for months but they could not get them because the booklets were not available. But as I speak, a lot is being done to cover the gaps.’’
Besides, the permanent secretary urged Nigerians living in the U.S to be good ambassadors of the country and encouraged them to engage more with the Consulate officials.
“We are mindful that we need to cover the U.S. a bit more because of your size. We are considering reopening the Francisco mission soon.
“Perhaps, if need be, we may open a mission in Texas because of the huge population of Nigerians residing there but we will pay attention to San Francisco for now.
“Let us see how we can reduce traffic coming from the West to New York, Atlanta and Washington, DC. So we are working hard to get it done,’’
Aduda assured the Nigerian community that the Consulate was committed to making things easy for them, calling on them to support the mission to deliver better services.
On a land donated to Nigerian nationals in Miami, Florida, Aduda challenged the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDO Americas) to take possession of it and build a museum for Nigeria.
On ways Nigerians could handle emergency trips to the homeland, Mrs Mosun Onilede, the Immigration Attache, advised Nigerians to apply for Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC).
Onilede said ETC allowed Nigerians to travel home on one way and it is valid for only 14 days, saying that such provision can be checked with the Airlines also.
The town hall meeting was attended by several Nigerians both in-persons and by virtual, including Amb. Amina Smaila, Consul-General of Nigeria in Atlanta, and Amb. George Edokpa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN.
NAN
Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Area Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),
Ibeju-Lekki, Epe Division, Lagos State, has warned truck drivers against speeding and reckless driving.
He gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeju-Lekki on Tuesday.
The FRSC official, who blamed speeding on the ghastly vehicle accident that occurred at Aiyetoro market in Epe
which claimed several lives and left some injured, said that with careful driving, such accident could be avoided.
He added that “the accident was as a result of speeding, reckless driving and loading of truck beyond its capacity.
“All these are factors responsible for accident when drivers are not conscious of the driving rules.
“Vehicle can develop technical fault at any time, therefore, speed limit and caution need to be applied while driving.”
He said FRSC had been sensitising drivers on the need to install speed limit device and be road conscious while driving, in line with the mandate to instill decent use of road.
Ibitomi also advised passers-by and the public to be safety conscious while walking on roadsides to avoid falling victim of accidents.
He attributed major road crashes on roads to speed limit violation, urging drivers to respect the sanctity of human life by obeying traffic rules.
He added that the FRSC had evolved measures to ensure accident-free yuletide and new year festivities in 2024
Jubilant supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s apparent victory in Florida early Wednesday as he claimed a return to the White House, despite most major news networks holding off on officially calling the race.
At an event in Palm Beach, Trump supporters reveled in the win projected by Fox News, cheering as the former president declared a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”
“I feel extraordinary,” said 68-year-old supporter Ted Sarvanis, dancing with arms in the air. “This is the greatest American political story in the history of the country.”
Joined by running mate J.D. Vance, Trump took the stage, celebrating his projected win. The atmosphere at the convention center was electric, with supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” caps and mingling in formal attire and Trump-themed clothing.
“I feel relieved. I was a little bit scared because you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Stacy Kurtz, 45.
In contrast, a far different scene unfolded for Vice President Kamala Harris’s supporters at Howard University in Washington, where they were hoping for a Democratic win.
As the night wore on and Trump gained electoral votes in key battleground states, disappointment swept through the crowd.
“I am scared, I am anxious now,” said Charlyn Anderson earlier in the evening.
Democratic watch parties in places like Atlanta and Pennsylvania grew somber as results rolled in, with Lynn Johnson, 65, expressing concern, “It’s going to be dangerous if he wins. I don’t feel safe.”
While Trump’s supporters celebrated a comeback, the mood among Democrats was marked by worry and disbelief.
“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Harris supporter Ken Brown.
The contrasting scenes highlighted the nation’s deep political divide on election night.
President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States, expressing optimism for stronger ties between Nigeria and the U.S. in an era of global challenges.
The congratulatory message, issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasises the Nigerian leader’s hopes for a renewed partnership between the two nations.
Following his victory on Wednesday, Trump pledged to “heal” the country, marking a stunning political comeback as he edged past Kamala Harris in a closely contested election.
Tinubu, in his message, affirmed, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”
Tinubu highlighted that Trump’s return to the White House reflects the trust and confidence of the American people in his leadership, praising their commitment to democracy.
Given Trump’s experience from 2017 to 2021 as the 45th President, Tinubu foresees a new era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.”
The Nigerian President also expressed confidence that Trump’s leadership will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, acknowledging America’s significant influence on global affairs.
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