In the wake of worsening international relations, the Network for Good Governance and Development (NEFGAD) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently tackle the operational challenges facing Nigerian mission personnel and Immigration Service attachés serving in foreign countries.
In a letter signed by its Acting Head of Office, Barrister Unekwu Blessing Ojo, and dated Tuesday, November 4, NEFGAD expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions faced by Nigerian diplomatic and immigration personnel serving in foreign missions.
Blessing warned that if the issues are not urgently addressed, they could have serious implications for Nigeria’s global image, diplomatic efficiency, and service delivery to both Nigerians and foreigners abroad.
“For over two years, the Nigeria Immigration Service has duly appointed and designated Immigration Attachés to serve in Nigerian missions across different continents to handle essential migration-related responsibilities such as visa processing, passport interventions, data verification, and immigration intelligence,” she stated.
She stated that the officers are yet to be deployed, leaving some missions with only one officer handling the immigration responsibilities of an entire country, including multiple requests from both Nigerians and foreign nationals. This situation is not only inefficient but also undiplomatic and inconsistent with international best practices.
The group noted that leading nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Canada maintain full-fledged Immigration and Consular Services within their embassies and consulates, deploying specialised officers in adequate numbers to ensure efficient processing of visas, passports, residency inquiries, and other services. These countries, NEFGAD emphasised, have leveraged such systems to strengthen national security, global mobility, and international cooperation.
NEFGAD further argued that Nigeria’s inability to replicate such robust immigration representation has placed the country at a serious diplomatic disadvantage, weakened consular services, and undermined the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
The organisation also expressed deep concern over reports that many of Nigeria’s diplomatic attachés and mission staff have gone for several months without receiving their salaries and allowances.
“This neglect not only affects their morale and productivity but also tarnishes Nigeria’s image before host countries. A demoralised or financially distressed attaché cannot effectively represent the interests of any nation.”
NEFGAD therefore urged the Federal Government to take swift action to resolve these challenges, ensure the prompt deployment and remuneration of Immigration Attachés, and strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic missions to restore efficiency and credibility in the nation’s foreign service.
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