Tinubu orders action on passport renewal delays in Rwanda

President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Rwanda to address delays in passport renewal services affecting Nigerians living in the country.

 

The President gave the directive during an interactive session with Nigerians in Rwanda held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali.

 

A statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu also pledged transparent governance and assured Nigerians abroad that his administration would continue to create opportunities for citizens at home and in the diaspora.

 

The delegation, coordinated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, included academics, business executives, United Nations officials and professionals across different sectors.

 

Speaking during the session, Tinubu commended Nigerians in Rwanda for representing the country positively and said his administration’s reforms were already producing results.

 

“Our reforms are working, and the economy is bright and stable. We owe every Nigerian, both at home and abroad, the provision of the enabling environment to break and lead in all spheres,” the President said.

 

“To the students and professionals here, I promised today that Nigeria will be governed transparently. I will lead with sincerity regardless of tribe or any other considerations.”

 

Tinubu also urged Nigerians to rise above ethnic and tribal divisions, stressing that national unity remained important.

 

“The Green-White-Green flag means so much to all of us. None of us has direct control over where we are born,” he said.

 

The President directed Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ibrahim Zanna, to work with NIDCOM and the Presidency to resolve issues affecting Nigerians in the country, particularly concerns relating to passport processing.

 

One of the major issues raised during the meeting was the absence of a passport office at the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali.

 

Chairman of the Association of Nigerians in Rwanda, Prof Umar Wali, said many Nigerians in the country were struggling to renew passports and obtain travel documents for newborn children.

 

“There is no Passport Office at the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali, and many members of our community face difficulties renewing passports and obtaining passports for newborn babies,” he said.

 

Also at the meeting, Nigerian-Canadian basketball executive and President of NBA club Dallas Mavericks, Masai Ujiri, expressed interest in supporting sports infrastructure development in Nigeria.

 

Ujiri said he had successfully developed a sports and hospitality complex in Rwanda and was willing to replicate similar investments in Nigeria.

 

Other participants at the meeting included officials from the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, NASENI, and Nigerian students in Rwanda.

 

NIDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised Nigerians in Rwanda for what she described as their positive contributions and conduct, saying they had continued to project a good image of Nigeria abroad.