The new visa policy states that Nigerians in the diaspora with dual citizenship are free to travel home with their Nigeria passport even if it is expired.
By the policy, they should show their expired Nigeria
passport to ensure they are truly from Nigeria.
The envoy confirmed in the interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria that the Nigeria Immigration Service had issued a circular to Nigerian
diplomatic missions abroad to inform airlines operators and border authorities
of host countries of the policy.
Egopija said: “This new policy has to work with the airlines
and some airlines are insisting some passengers boarding their flights will
need Emergency Travelling Certificate.
“And in that case, we always would tell Nigerians who want
to go with expired Passport to check with the airlines, if the airlines will
accept the government’s policy because we don’t own an airline.
“But most airlines that fly straight to Nigeria from their
base will always do not have problem but airlines with connecting flights will
somehow hesitate.
“So, we always ask Nigerians, intending travellers to check
with the airlines.
“Just to make assurance double sure.”
According to him, most airlines have accepted the
government’s decision to allow Nigerians to travel home, but the nationals
needed to cross check before travelling.
Egopija, however, said that the Consulate had been working
hard to ensure that Nigerians that applied for Passports get them before
travelling.
The envoy said the Consulate had also gone to Michigan,
Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Indiana for passport intervention to provide
passports for its nationals in those states.
According to him: “Michigan is the highest with about
between 450 and 500 people and we’ve been able to deliver about 80 per cent
passports in Michigan.
“We are now working with the Immigration headquarters to
ensure that the remaining passports are delivered.
“The same thing goes for all other places.
“We have not been able to produce that of Wisconsin and
Indianapolis (Indiana) because we went there very late, and it fell within the
United Nations General Assembly period in September ending.
“But this week, we have started consciously to make sure
that this is produced and that the people who would travel, get their passports
shortly before they travel.
“But that also brings to mind that many of the people who
will travel now have another opportunity to travel to Nigeria, even with
expired passports with recent government’s decision to allow Nigerians travel
with expired passports.”
Egopija, however, assured the nationals of improved service
delivery in the coming year, saying: “We have a pact with them and we will
continue to do everything for them to improve our delivery services.”
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