Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States on Sunday 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, which lasted from 7:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. Eastern Time, brought together the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., the Consulate General in New York, and the Consulate General in Atlanta. Hundreds of participants joined 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, a development intended to reduce delays in processing. Until recently, printers were available only in Washington, requiring staff from other missions to travel there for monthly passport printing.

Itegboje noted that last-minute applications by Nigerians often strain the missions? capacity.

?Nigerians apply for passports, visas and other consular services at the last hours and want us to do magic,? he said, adding that the meeting was meant to ?hear Nigerians out, know their problems and seek ways to address them.?

He cited President Bola Tinubu?s foreign policy framework ? the ?4Ds? of Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora ? as recognition of the diaspora?s role in national development.

The Consul-General in New York, Abubakar Jidda, urged Nigerians to balance criticism with constructive engagement.

?Whatever name you give your country is the name others will call it,? he said, cautioning against ?mischievous and injurious? portrayals of missions online. He said deliberate misrepresentation undermines the work of diplomatic staff and damages Nigeria?s image, and called for mutual respect between Nigerians and mission officials.

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. Former Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) America President, Patience Key, described the event as ?listening, correcting falsehoods and charting solutions.?

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 Guardian)

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