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Nigerian Missions in U.S. resume passport production services
Nigerian Missions in U.S. resume passport production services
The Nigerian government said the passport production crisis in the U.S. has been resolved with three Missions already resuming services.
According to a Public Notice posted in the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, all passport applicants scheduled earlier for biometrics are expected to come to the Mission this Monday.
“This is to inform all passport applicants scheduled for biometric capture from Monday, November 13th to Thursday 16th have been rescheduled.
“It has been rescheduled to hold from Monday 20th to Wednesday 22nd, 2023. The affected applicants can come to the Embassy on any of the days.
“The change of schedule is due to the internet outrage experienced at the Embassy and we regret any inconveniences this might have caused.’’
Confirming this development, a source in the Embassy on Sunday said the problem was resolved over the weekend.
“The system is back over the weekend. The experts worked tirelessly to resolve it and we are back.
“We fixed it yesterday (Saturday) and test run it. The system is back and all the centres are fine, both New York and Atlanta.
“The server in DC is connected to Atlanta and New York so whatever happens to our server affects other Missions.’’
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The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the problem was internet-related, not a server issue, noting that since the server is connected to the Embassy internet, anything that happens to the internet disconnects the other centres as well.
According to the source, the experts in Nigeria worked with local ICT experts in the Embassy and they all worked together and they were able to fix it.
Nigeria has three Missions in the United States. They are the Consulates-General of Nigeria in New York and Atlanta, and the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC.
The embassy in Washington DC is the only passport production centre in the U.S., while the consulates take biometrics in their Missions and take the same to Washington DC for passport production.
The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) and its 20 partner organisations in New York have earlier appealed to the Federal Government to provide passport production machines for Missions in Atlanta and New York.
“The New York consulate has jurisdiction over the highest number of states and accepts the largest number of applicants from across the United States.
“It boggles the mind to understand why two passport printing machines are located in Washington with none in New York and in Atlanta,’’ the associations pondered in a statement.
The New York Jurisdiction comprises the 20 states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, Ohio and North Dakota.
Others are South Dakota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Nigerian Missions in U.S. resume passport production services
(NAN)
News
Tinubu not telling Nigerians the truth, says Sule Lamido
Tinubu not telling Nigerians the truth, says Sule Lamido
President Bola Tinubu has been accused of not being forthright about the true state of Nigeria under his administration.
Former Jigawa State Governor and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Sule Lamido, made the accusation while speaking on the BBC Hausa programme Gane Mini Hanya.
Lamido criticized both Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as a lack of transparency in governance.
“Buhari’s and Tinubu’s governments are not being transparent with Nigerians unlike during the time when PDP was in power where everything was transparent and open to all Nigerians,” Lamido said.
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He accused the two administrations of relying on propaganda rather than providing citizens with accurate information.
Lamido also expressed concerns over President Tinubu’s recent loan requests, questioning the logic behind them. “If Nigerians are being told the truth then there is nothing wrong with that, but how would you budget N30tn, generate N50tn and then request loan when you have a surplus of N20tn,” he said, referencing last year’s budget.
He described the situation as “reckless” and “selfish,” adding, “This recklessness and clear-cut selfishness is not done anywhere in the world, but yet you find (some) Nigerians supporting it. Visit social media and see how APC is being criticised, being referred to as calamity, yet you find some protecting it.”
Tinubu not telling Nigerians the truth, says Sule Lamido
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Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the commencement of its recruitment exercise, assuring Nigerians that the process is entirely free and fair.
The agency has cautioned the public to be vigilant against scammers who may attempt to exploit unsuspecting applicants during the recruitment period.
Applications are invited for positions in the Superintendent, Inspector, and Customs Assistant cadres as part of the Service’s plan to recruit 3,927 officers in 2025.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and supporting Nigeria’s economic recovery efforts.
“Our recruitment is entirely free and fair. At no stage do we charge fees. Anyone requesting payment is a scammer,” the agency emphasized, urging applicants to be wary of fraudulent schemes.
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The NCS outlined eligibility criteria, stating that applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN), and have no criminal record or ongoing investigations.
Academic qualifications for the three cadres are as follows:
Superintendent Cadre: A university degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) along with an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
Inspectorate Cadre: A National Diploma (ND) or Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from an accredited institution.
Customs Assistant Cadre: At least an O’Level certificate (WAEC or NECO).
In addition to these qualifications, the NCS stressed that all applicants must be physically and mentally fit, providing evidence of medical fitness from a recognized government hospital.
Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
News
Tinubu to critics: I won’t reduce my cabinet size
Tinubu to critics: I won’t reduce my cabinet size
President Bola Tinubu on Monday unequivocally responded to critics who described his cabinet as “bloated” by saying he is unprepared to reduce the size of his 48-man cabinet.
“I am not ready to shrink” the size of my cabinet, Tinubu said during a media chat at his Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos State.
“I am not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet,” the former Lagos governor said, arguing that “efficiency” has been at the core of his selection of ministers.
The president also said he has no regret removing the petrol subsidy in May 2023, saying Nigeria cannot continue to be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries.
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“I don’t have any regrets whatsoever in removing petrol subsidy. We are spending our future, we were just deceiving ourselves, that reform was necessary,” he told reporters.
Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration. The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while another, Simon Lalong, moved to the Senate.
There were calls for the President to reshuffle his cabinet as many Nigerians have not been impressed by the performance of some of the ministers, especially in the face of unprecedented inflation, excruciating economic situation and rising insecurity.
In October 2024, Tinubu re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation. He also sacked five of his ministers but critics insist that the President’s cabinet remains large, especially with the creation of a Livestock Ministry with a minister.
Tinubu to critics: I won’t reduce my cabinet size
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