The Nigerian and Canadian Business Network (NCBN) has expressed its appreciation to the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Buba Yakub and every member of the committee for addressing complaints of Nigerians about how Nigerians are treated at the Nigeria High Commissions, around the world, with urgency.
Also, the network appreciated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and others.
In a statement issued by the chairman of the network, King Wale Adesanya, the NCBN said: “On behalf of Nigerians in Canada, NCBN would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs Yusuf Buba Yakub, and all members for addressing the issue of the treatment of Nigerians at the Nigeria High Commissions globally in regard to surcharges.
“The Hearing today was a great success and was full to capacity from participants around the globe.
“We also will like to thank CG. Muhammed Babandede , the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, for an excellent presentation and explanation of the issues.
“Also, our able Honourable Minister, Geoffrey Onyema for your speech and agreeing to harmonise the multiple changes. We appreciate the leadership of the Chairman, NIDCOM, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for looking after our Diaspora issues.
“We hope these concerns stated will be addressed promptly.
“We recognized the support of all NIDO Chairmen, especially Chairman Obed Muonago for speaking collectively for all Diasporans.”
The appreciation came at the end of a two-day investigative hearing put in place by the committee on foreign affairs to tackle issues that affect Nigerians in diaspora.
The investigative hearing was constituted after a lot of complaints by Nigerians about their the way they are treated at Nigeria’s foreign missions all over the world.
A major complaint from Nigerians in Diaspora was the issue of levies and charges leveled on them by the foreign missions.
While addressing the issue, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, disclosed that the charges were due to insufficient funds to run operations of the embassies.
Onyeama noted that the charges were been in existence since but were only suspended temporarily.
He said: “The $100 they (Nigerians in the US) said has been added is voluntary; it is just for those who want to have their biometrics done without an appointment. If you wait for your appointment, you will get it (done) and not pay. But if you want it the same day, then pay $100.”
Also, Onyema said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was making effort to make Nigerians in diaspora have access to a 24/7 call centre in Nigeria which would entertain complaints from Nigerians all over the world.
During his presentation, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service lamented about the shortage of passport booklets, which according to him, is the biggest challenge facing the service.
Babandede said: “The passport is the biggest challenge. When we talk about passports, the challenges are ours; some of the challenges are with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and some are with Nigerians themselves. On our side, we have the huge challenge of scarcity of passport booklets.”
He remarked that the NIS had just 47 offices all over Nigeria despite the high population of Nigeria.
While reacting to the remarks of both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Comptroller General of the NIS, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that the presentations of Babandede and Onyema “have shed a lot of light on happenings and innovations going on in immigration.”
She said: “We are going to set up a NIDCOM app which can be downloaded by all Nigerians in diaspora to even bring in their complaints and all. Also, the diaspora commission is very soon going to launch an Internet radio, where we are going to have communication all the time with our brothers and sisters in diaspora. So, the key thing is communication.”
