As part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) without proof of direct participation in official schedule of activities.
According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, to prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has also been accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York was further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.
He said by the directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies were mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event, adding that where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.
“The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation,” the presidential media aide stated.
