The attention of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has been drawn to an old CBC video circulating on social media creating an impression that Nigerians in Canada go through hell in securing a new Nigerian Passport. This is not true.The video in circulation was broadcast on CBC in 2013 and the High Commissioner to Canada at the time, the late Amb. Ojo Maduekwe diligently dealt with the issue then to strengthen the structure of the Passport Section of the Nigeria High Commission, in Ottawa, making it possible to obtain passports in less than a day in Ottawa.
The lady who was at the helm of affairs in Immigration section at the time was asked to leave Ottawa. Not only that, the late Ojo Maduekwe granted interviews to put into perspective what happened and promised Nigerians then that it would never happen again. And it never did. It must be pointed out here that up till today, applicants can obtain their passports in two hours at the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
This is verifiable from Nigerians in Canada. It is really uncharitable and worrisome that the video in question was posted on a day late Ambassador Maduekwe was being buried and honoured as a worthy leader and statesman. I appeal to all Nigerians to disregard the video.
While noting and admitting that some of our embassies must step up their attitude in dealing with issues relating to Nigerians in their host countries, President Buhari’s administration is determined to ensure that the rights and welfare of Nigerians whether at home or in the Diaspora remain a major priority of this administration.
Signed
Abdurrahman Balogun
S.A. Media to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
48 comments:
Is non of my business
This is really serious...
Seen
#Somebody must to love me tonyt!
Story!
IF NA SINCE 2013, WHY DEM NO SHOW D VIDIO??? YORUBA DE ALWAYS CLAIM SAY DEM KNO BOOK BUT SINCE WEY TIME REACH TO PROV DEMSEF, NON OF DEM FIT, DEM YASH DUNG OPEN. ABIKE, FASHIOLA, MINISTER OF FINANCE, N ALL D YORUBA APPOINTEE NO FIT PROV DEMSEF, NA JUST TO DE BLAME D PAST GOVT WEY GET WISDOM.
*SIGH*
I spent two trip to get mine....had to spend over a thousand dollars because of this people
hmmm
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
@lindaikeji , the video is very true!!! no point denying it @abikedabiri, just fix your house. I am a victim myself. the whole immigration service is a mess at home and abroad concerning passport issuance or re-issuance. I am not just talking... as i speak my passport is hanging at Immigration office Alausa, my offence is that I paid the Government stipulated amount of N17,600 on the official website rather than paying N28,000 to their 'boys' that hang around the Alausa office, inside the VIO compound right next to the Immigration office.
Linda I kid you not they at that office marked my file 'xo' meaning 'self processing' and they have been frustrating my application since the 20th of July 2016. please i have noway of making my voice heard, they frustrated so bad that i was crying like a baby (im a grown woman)...its a balant disrespect of my citizenship , they point blank told me that i cannot receive my passport yet because it is self service, that even those that paid the normal 'N28,000' have not gotten thiers .
On the official website , it clearly states that "if you pay through another means, your passport may be revoked in the future' but thier offices at Alausa office will frustrate the life out of you for paying on the website . Is this life?
Linda I beg you, publish this response. My email address is DANHERMOSA19@YAHOO.CO.UK, if you want me to clarify any further i am more than happy to.
@lindaikeji , the video is very true!!! no point denying it @abikedabiri, just fix your house. I am a victim myself. the whole immigration service is a mess at home and abroad concerning passport issuance or re-issuance. I am not just talking... as i speak my passport is hanging at Immigration office Alausa, my offence is that I paid the Government stipulated amount of N17,600 on the official website rather than paying N28,000 to their 'boys' that hang around the Alausa office, inside the VIO compound right next to the Immigration office.
Linda I kid you not they at that office marked my file 'xo' meaning 'self processing' and they have been frustrating my application since the 20th of July 2016. please i have noway of making my voice heard, they frustrated so bad that i was crying like a baby (im a grown woman)...its a balant disrespect of my citizenship , they point blank told me that i cannot receive my passport yet because it is self service, that even those that paid the normal 'N28,000' have not gotten thiers .
On the official website , it clearly states that "if you pay through another means, your passport may be revoked in the future' but thier offices at Alausa office will frustrate the life out of you for paying on the website . Is this life?
Linda I beg you, publish this response. My email address is DANHERMOSA19@YAHOO.CO.UK, if you want me to clarify any further i am more than happy to.
Okay. #Noted
Na me talk am!
Long Live Lib!!!
GOOD TO SEE
AUNTY LINDA 👩
The video is true but things have changed since then. I have friends who have received their passports same day in Ottawa and they didn't have to know anybody to get it.
The woman who was in charge was very rude and incompetent.
If you know any Nigerian living in Canada and has had to use the consulate in the last 2 years, they will confirm the current status quo which is better service
Okidoki... dee
this is a fucking lie...I live in Ottawa and to do my passport in 2013 took me a year and 2months..up till now it takes 2weeks!! to get your passport, not 2hours... yes it has improved compared to before but still the people at the embassy are the most unprofessional people ever... they prefer to sit around and gossip while they play NTA on the tv asking you to stay for hours unend waiting for passport only to be told to return in 3days
Issokay seen! Linda take note!
Omotayo, Alausa and Ontario, are they the same? Abi Alausa is now in Canada? Please learn to read before commenting. Gosh!
Na we the spoil our name all for the Hype. is all good
I think the only people to comment about this should be Nigerians in Canada, when you say the video is true and you are stating Alausa. Lets try to be objective
Abike should shout up.Why should she lie...i personaly saw the video on Fb.
I lived in Ontario Canada and it's easy for me and my son to get Canadian passport(7 business days and delivered by ups without visiting there office) Nigeria makes lives unnecessary difficult....my husband said we might not be able to get Nigeria passport here so he asked us to travel to Ghana and drive to Nigeria(imagine the pain my own birth country caused)
I am a living witness to this ....it is very true. I had to visit my own country Nigeria as an expatriate, imagine applying for a visa to visit Nigeria for some crazy government that is not organized. Thinking of visiting home this xmas probably same thing will repeat itself cos the stress of flying to Ottawa to meet with some crazy untrained staff at the Nigerian High Commission makes me sick.
So I just got my passport in Ottawa....it took me 4 hours to get my passport. This video is so old.... This isn't fair as the guy heading Ottawa consulate is very disciplined and the whole process is ow very effective.
Hmmmmmm!
Says, Genevieve.
Na lie,it took my sister over 1 month to get Nja passport. She saw hell b4 she got it.
My experience at Nigerian embassy at Ottawa in May this year is quite different from the picture painted in the video
The process of my passport renewal was smooth and it took about 3 hours to complete the process.
The embassy staff were very warm, courteous and professional during my short stay there.
Even before I flew 6 hrs from Alberta to Ottawa, the lady who I spoke with on the phone to make reservation for the renewal process was very warm and welcoming. She told me I don't need to make any reservation or appointment but I should just walk in at their stipulated working hours and that was what I did.
We were attended to on `first come first served` basis and given numbers according to our time of arrival.
I filled the renewal form and paid all fees online. No cash transaction was witnessed by me at the embassy nor did any of the embassy made any demand from anyone throughout.
Needless to say my picture and fingerprints were captured within two hours and I left the embassy with my new passport about 45 minutes later.
I was so proud and pleasantly surprised by the efficiency and the smooth process and I noted this in my comments in the embassy notebook.
I dare say: our embassy in Ottawa is one of a kind, different from others.
My experience at Nigerian embassy at Ottawa in May this year is quite different from the picture painted in the video
The process of my passport renewal was smooth and it took about 3 hours to complete the process.
The embassy staff were very warm, courteous and professional during my short stay there.
Even before I flew 6 hrs from Alberta to Ottawa, the lady who I spoke with on the phone to make reservation for the renewal process was very warm and welcoming. She told me I don't need to make any reservation or appointment but I should just walk in at their stipulated working hours and that was what I did.
We were attended to on `first come first served` basis and given numbers according to our time of arrival.
I filled the renewal form and paid all fees online. No cash transaction was witnessed by me at the embassy nor did any of the embassy made any demand from anyone throughout.
Needless to say my picture and fingerprints were captured within two hours and I left the embassy with my new passport about 45 minutes later.
I was so proud and pleasantly surprised by the efficiency and the smooth process and I noted this in my comments in the embassy notebook.
I dare say: our embassy in Ottawa is one of a kind, different from others.
Guys that video was truly old, you get your passport same day now in Ottawa, I can testify to that, was at the embassy earlier this year.
I know how you people serve Nigerians. after we appoint or elect u, u seize to be a servant and make yourself a lord. I believe whatever video it is even though I have not seen it.
Did you notice that the release was signed by S.A. (Media) on behalf of Sr. Special Assistant to the President? Waste of resources, all in the name of paying back election surrogates.
@ Linda Ikeji, the video is so true, I made three trp to Ottawa from Toronto and yet nothing was done. At a time they were operating two website with exact same info, when you get to their office to collect the passport you apply for and their response will be sorry you applied through the wrong website. A lot of people has fallen victim of it and they will not refund your money. Since 2008 vowed never to use Nigeria passport again.
@ Linda Ikeji, the video is so true, I made three trp to Ottawa from Toronto and yet nothing was done. At a time they were operating two website with exact same info, when you get to their office to collect the passport you apply for and their response will be sorry you applied through the wrong website. A lot of people has fallen victim of it and they will not refund your money. Since 2008 vowed never to use Nigeria passport again.
@ Linda Ikeji, the video is so true, I made three trp to Ottawa from Toronto and yet nothing was done. At a time they were operating two website with exact same info, when you get to their office to collect the passport you apply for and their response will be sorry you applied through the wrong website. A lot of people has fallen victim of it and they will not refund your money. Since 2008 vowed never to use Nigeria passport again.
Where is that lib follower that claims to live in Canada that comments on every post? Can you verify Abike's claims? If it's a post about naija, na u go first comment. This one about Canada, u r no where to be found
Keep quiet!!!
That is not true. I leave in canada and I think I have first class info on this. I traveled to Ottawa to do passport for my family. To my greatest suprise we did not waste upto 30 mins they hand them their passport without kick back.is like a dream.anybody tht is here that has been to the embassy will testify to that.
Someone post here that he/she made 3 trip to Ottawa, and u are using anon to write here. Your not telling the truth. Were do u stay in Toronto cos I'm in Toronto too and I traveled to Ottawa on may for my families passport like I said it not take upto 30 mins for them to get their passports.
My name is Francis you are saying the truth I was the too around that time and there is no hiccups everything was smooth and easy me and my family did not spend upto 1 hour there.
Abike, stop the posturing. Just send a few people incognito to go try get passports in Nigerian missions abroad. Its a total disaster, time wasting and full of rent seeking. Start with South Africa and Malaysia. Simply tell us the turn around time for a passport and stick to it. No issues charging premium for super fast turn around.
I was there in June on Metcalfe street, it took me two days.
ITS GETTING WORSE.THIS WOMAN NEEDS TO GO THERE OR SEND PEOPLE SECRETLY. BRIBE BRIBE BRIBE OR ELSE YOU WILL STAY THERE FOR DAYS. GOD HELP US. BUHARI NEED TO INVESTIGATE OTTAWA HIGH COMMISSION .ITS A DISGRACE.
Lies. Got my passport in 2 hours.
ReAL igbo man, shut the fuck up and read my post properly, go find out if they ever had two website and it will shock your miserable self how many people fall victim. Probably you were still living in Nigeria suffering and confused just like you are right now. For your info i live in downtown Toronto, young and Dundas south corner of Eaton center and where the heck do you live?
ReAL igbo man, shut the fuck up and read my post properly, go find out if they ever had two website and it will shock your miserable self how many people fall victim. Probably you were still living in Nigeria suffering and confused just like you are right now. For your info i live in downtown Toronto, young and Dundas south corner of Eaton center and where the heck do you live?
Two days wasn't too long a time! Back home how long does it take even to capture?
She just compared notes as in the same thing playing out! There's nothing spectacular and peculiar to Ottawa than Nigeria; applicants go through the same harrowing experience with the passport office and desk!
I don't recall any format of bribery
I hope they have been FIRED!
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