By LIZZY OKOJI

Nigeria has opened a new office in Cairo, Egypt, to provide visa application, passport, Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identity Number (NIN) services in the country.

Mr Abdul-Razaq Musa, the Executive Assistant to the President on Nigeria-Egypt Cultural and Socio-Economic Forum (NESCEF), made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Centre was opened as part of activities of the ongoing Nigeria–Egypt Trade Conference and Exhibition (NETCE) holding in Cairo, Egypt, from Oct. 10 to Oct. 11.

According to Musa, the centre will facilitate administrative tasks related to visa and passport applications, BVN and NIN enrolment services for Nigerians living in Egypt and the neighbouring Arab countries wishing to travel to Nigeria.

Musa stated that the office complex was inaugurated on Oct. 9 by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mr. Umar El-Yakub, Senator at the Egyptian Parliament, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Egypt, Nura Rimi.

The new building situated at 51 Michel Bakom Street Dokki, Cairo, serves as the Secretariat of the Nigeria-Egypt Cultural and Socio-Economic Forum (NECSEF), co-locates OIS, which provides services for Nigerian Foreign missions and Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The centre is opened in collaboration with a Nigerian firm, Online Integrated Solutions (OIS).

Mr. Mahmood Ahmadu, owner of OIS and President of the NECSEF, explained that the building is an important symbol in promoting Nigeria-Egypt economic and business relations.

He said with the presence of OIS in Egypt, Nigerians in the country can now enroll and obtain BVN and National Identity Number (NIN) without travelling to Nigeria.

The firm, he said, also provide administrative and payment support for Nigeria passport applications.

According to the founder of the leading software solutions provider, established in 2012, the company also supports and facilitates a wide range of online applications across 34 major cities around the world.

“Our services also include the provision of biometric visa administrative services, financial services, bank verification number, account opening services (for Nigerian banks), national ID biometric capture and medical tourism,” he said.

On NECSEF, Ahmadu explained that it is a model business association devoted to promoting successful economic relations and business relationships between Nigeria and Egypt.

He said that the Forum aims to promote its members in Nigeria and Egypt, facilitate the establishment of mutually beneficial partnerships between Nigerian and Egyptian businesses.

According to him, the objectives of the Forum is to organise conferences, lectures, seminars, exhibitions and other business activities, while also encouraging economic development trade relations between citizens living in both countries.

Egyptian officials and business executives were present at the inauguration of the building. (NAN)

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