Nigerians in the United States, under the aegis of the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) and its partner organisations, have said the delivery of passport printing machines to Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta is a great relief for Nigerians in the United States (US).
The New York-based NGO said this in a letter commending the minister of the Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, signed by its president, Mr Olutomi Aregbesola.
The Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, recently confirmed the arrival and installation of the machines at a town hall meeting, stating that it marks a turning point in the provision of consular services.
According to the letter to LEADERSHIP, Aregbesola described the machine delivery as a breakthrough for Nigerians in the US, stressing that it would end years of frustrating delays in passport issuance and renewal.
She recounted that the development followed relentless advocacy from OAN and its partner organisations, who had long called for decentralised passport printing to ease the burden on Nigerian citizens in the U.S.
“Until now, officials from New York and Atlanta Consulates had to travel to Washington, D.C., to process passports – a practice that caused significant delays and frustration among Nigerians across multiple states under the consulate’s jurisdiction,” he said.
Aregbesola commended Tunji-Ojo for his prompt and decisive intervention in addressing the passport crisis. The move has been hailed as a game-changer for the Nigerian diaspora, many of whom had been unable to travel due to long waits for passport renewals.
“We are deeply grateful to Minister Tunji-Ojo for his quick response and unwavering commitment to resolving this long-standing issue.
“The arrival of this machine marks a new era for Nigerians in the U.S., ensuring they can access efficient and timely consular services without unnecessary stress.”
Aregbesola extended a special invitation to Tunji-Ojo to serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2025 Annual Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Carnival in New York in recognition of his outstanding service to Nigerians in the diaspora.
She said it would provide an opportunity to celebrate the minister’s dedication and give him a platform to engage directly with Nigerians in the U.S.
She urged President Bola Tinubu to continue supporting visionary leaders like Minister Tunji-Ojo, adding, “This is the kind of progressive governance we need – leaders who listen, act, and bring solutions.
“We look forward to continued collaboration with the government to ensure the sustained improvement of consular services for Nigerians abroad.
“With this historic step, the Nigerian Government has signalled its dedication to enhancing service delivery and strengthening trust with its diaspora community.
“Nigerians in the U.S. can now look forward to a more efficient, transparent, and responsive passport processing system – one that truly reflects the spirit of the renewed hope agenda,” Aregbesola said.
