“Getting a Nigerian passport takes two hours only” – Dabiri-Erewa
Contrary to reports on social media, getting a new Nigerian passport in Canada is not difficult. It only takes about two hours.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this in a statement on Thursday.
In the statement signed by her media assistant, Abdurrahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa said “the video in circulation was broadast on CBC in 2013 and the High Commissioner to Canada, at the time, the late Amb. Ojo Maduekwe dealt with the issue then”.
According to her, Maduekwe “strengthened the structure of the passport section of the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa at the time to make it possible to obtain passports in less than a day”.
“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,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa admitted that some Nigerian embassies needed to improve their dealing with issues relating to Nigerians in their host countries.
She however noted that President Buhari’s administration was determined to ensure that the welfare of Nigerians home and abroad was given priority.
