Passports: Nigerians in Diaspora petition Interior minister over printer crisis
ABUJA—Nigerians in the United States of America, under the aegis of the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians, OAN, have urged the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address the passport printer crisis at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta.
The group expressed disappointment that one year after it appealed to the minister to address the problem, there has not been an official response.
In a statement signed by its President, Olutomi Aregbesola, sent to Vanguard yesterday, the OAN said it was disheartening that inefficiency has come to define the passport processing system in the aforementioned counsulates.
According to him, the absence of passport printers in New York and Atlanta has caused undue hardship for Nigerians, leaving many stranded without valid passports.
This, he added, has made it increasingly difficult for those wishing to travel for emergencies, work, or attending to other family commitments.The group noted that two passport printers are currently stationed in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., one of which remains idle.
It alleged that the refusal to deploy the idle printer to New York or Atlanta stemmed from “unfounded concerns” expressed by the former Minister of Interior that such a move might create discontent among the missions.
Aregbesola said, “This reasoning defies logic and reflects a lack of informed and strategic decision-making,” OAN stated, pointing out that this inaction has led to unnecessary travel expenses for immigration officers, security risks, and delays in service delivery.“The New York Consulate serves the largest jurisdiction. in the United States with a high concentration of Nigerians, yet it lacks a passport printer. OAN called this situation unacceptable in 2025.”
