Participants praised the meeting’s openness and pledged to defend Nigeria’s image while attracting investment.
WASHINGTON — Nigerian missions in the United States have pledged faster service delivery and stronger engagement with the diaspora community following a virtual town hall meeting on Sunday.
The Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Consulates in New York and Atlanta jointly hosted the four-hour session, which drew hundreds of Nigerians. Discussions covered passports, visas, investment, trade, and Nigeria’s global image.
Acting Ambassador Samson Itegboje announced that New York and Atlanta now each have a passport printer, while Washington operates two — a move expected to speed up processing times. He urged Nigerians to avoid last-minute applications, saying, “Nigerians apply for passports, visas, and other consular services at the last hours and want us to do magic.”
Consul-General Abubakar Jidda warned against “mischievous and injurious” social media attacks on missions, stressing the need for balanced criticism and recognition of progress. Atlanta’s Consul-General Auwalu Namadina called for continuous dialogue, noting, “Fixing Nigeria is not for some, but for everybody.”
Participants praised the meeting’s openness and pledged to defend Nigeria’s image while attracting investment.
The missions invited the diaspora to the 2025 Independence Day Parade and Carnival in New York this October.