WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rare show of unity and openness, Nigeria’s three diplomatic missions in the United States — the Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Consulates General in New York and Atlanta — on Sunday hosted a four-hour-plus virtual town hall meeting with Nigerians across the country, addressing pressing diaspora concerns and debunking online misinformation.
The meeting, which ran from 7 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. (New York time), saw hundreds of Nigerians logging in to speak directly with their diplomats on issues ranging from passport and visa delays to investment opportunities, trade relations, and Nigeria’s global image.
Amb. Samson Itegboje, Acting Ambassador of Nigeria to the U.S., announced a major boost to passport processing — both the New York and Atlanta consulates now have their own printers, with Washington, D.C. operating two. Previously, printing was centralised in Washington, forcing staff from the other missions to travel monthly to process applications.
However, Itegboje cautioned against last-minute applications.
“Nigerians apply for passports, visas, and other consular services at the last hours and want us to do magic,” he said. “This meeting is to hear Nigerians out, know their problems and seek ways to address them.”
He reaffirmed that the Tinubu administration’s 4Ds foreign policy — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora — underscores the importance of engaging the Nigerian community abroad.
New York Consul-General, Amb. Abubakar Jidda, urged constructive criticism while warning against damaging narratives on social media.
“Whatever name you give your country is the name others will call it,” Jidda said. “While we criticise, we should also acknowledge the good works being done. Let us counter negative narratives aimed at tarnishing our image.”
Atlanta Consul-General, Amb. Auwalu Namadina, stressed that rebuilding Nigeria was “a collective responsibility” and called for ongoing dialogue to bridge gaps between the missions and the diaspora.
Participants, including former Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) America president Patience Key, praised the event as “a masterclass in listening, correcting falsehoods, and charting solutions.”
The session closed with an invitation for Nigerians in the U.S. to attend the 2025 Independence Day Parade and Carnival in New York this October, with attendees pledging to continue defending Nigeria’s image and attracting investments to the homeland.
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