Nigerians living in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe have called for enhanced passport and consular services in the region, while commending the Federal Government of Nigeria for its continued engagement with citizens in the diaspora.
The appeal was made during a special engagement with the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who led a high-level Nigerian delegation to Poland for some bilateralassignments.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community, Chairman of APC Poland, Mr. Adekunle Ayoola, welcomed the Minister, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, heads of Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies, diplomatic officials, and distinguished guests to the gathering of Nigerians resident in Poland.
Ayoola described the Nigerian diaspora as a vital bridge between Nigeria and the international community, noting that Nigerians across Europe continue to make significant contributions in sectors including education, healthcare, technology, business, research, sports, and public service.
He emphasized that while diaspora Nigerians remain committed to promoting Nigeria’s image abroad and contributing to national development, access to efficient passport and documentation services remains a critical concern for many citizens living overseas.
According to him, the growing population of Nigerians in Poland and neighboring countries has placed increasing pressure on existing consular and passport services in Warsaw, making it necessary for government to strengthen service delivery mechanisms.
“We respectfully appeal for continued investment in modernizing passport services in Warsaw through increased processing capacity, expanded appointment availability, enhanced digital solutions, and the provision of additional resources where necessary,” Ayoola stated.
He observed that many Nigerians travel considerable distances from various parts of Central and Eastern Europe to access passport and biometric enrollment services in Poland, adding that improvements would significantly reduce the burden on applicants while deepening the relationship between Nigeria and its citizens abroad.
The APC Poland Chairman also acknowledged the efforts of Nigerian Embassy officials, particularly the Immigration Attaché and relevant government agencies, for their dedication in serving the diaspora community despite operational challenges and growing demand.
He reiterated the readiness of the Nigerian diaspora community to partner with government initiatives aimed at strengthening engagement with Nigerians abroad, promoting national unity, and creating opportunities that benefit both the homeland and overseas citizens.
As part of the event, the diaspora community presented an Award of Excellence and Appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Interior in recognition of his support and commitment to Nigerians abroad. Similar recognition was also extended to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service for her contributions toward improving service delivery.
Ayoola disclosed that additional honours for other agency heads would be presented during a planned diaspora engagement visit to Nigeria in July as part of activities marking Diaspora Week, where stakeholders intend to further assess and celebrate outstanding institutional performance.
The event concluded with renewed calls for stronger collaboration between government and the diaspora community, as participants expressed optimism that ongoing reforms within the Ministry of Interior and its agencies would further improve service delivery and strengthen ties between Nigeria and its citizens around the world.
The gathering formed part of activities surrounding the Minister’s official visit to Poland and underscored the growing importance of diaspora engagement in Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and national development agenda.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com