Nigerians In Diaspora Call On Interior Minister To Resolve Passport Printer Crisis

Urgent Appeal from Nigerians in the U.S.

Nigerians residing in the United States, represented by the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), have called on the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address the persistent passport printer crisis at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta.

The group expressed deep disappointment that despite raising concerns about the issue over a year ago, no official response or action has been taken to alleviate the challenges.

Inefficiencies in Passport Processing

In a statement signed by Olutomi Aregbesola, President of OAN, the organization highlighted that the absence of passport printers at the New York and Atlanta Consulates has created significant hardships for Nigerians. Many have been left stranded without valid passports, making it nearly impossible for them to travel for emergencies, work, or family obligations.

The statement further noted that two passport printers are currently located at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., with one of them reportedly sitting idle.

Unnecessary Delays and Hardships

The refusal to relocate the idle printer to New York or Atlanta has been attributed to “unfounded concerns” raised by the previous Minister of Interior, who feared such a decision might lead to friction among missions.

“This reasoning is illogical and demonstrates a lack of strategic decision-making,” OAN said. They emphasized that this inaction has caused:

Increased travel expenses for immigration officers,
Heightened security risks, and
Severe delays in service delivery.

The New York Consulate’s High Demand

OAN highlighted that the New York Consulate serves the largest jurisdiction in the United States, with a dense population of Nigerians relying on its services. Despite this, it lacks a functional passport printer, a situation the organization described as “unacceptable in 2025.”

The group urged the Minister of Interior to take decisive steps to resolve this crisis, ensuring efficient and timely passport processing for Nigerians in the U.S.