Nigerians in the United States have called on the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to look into the issue of absence of passport printers at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta.
They argued that it has caused undue hardship for them as many have been left stranded without valid passports.
This, they said, has prevented them from traveling for emergencies, work, or family commitments.
A statement by the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), in collaboration with its partner organizations, expressed disappointment over the continued lack of response from the Ministry of Interior to their long standing appeal to address the issue
The groups copied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in its statement.
According to the statement, the absence of passport printers in New York and Atlanta has caused undue hardship for Nigerians in the diaspora, leaving many stranded without valid passports. This has prevented them from traveling for emergencies, work, or family commitments.
OAN President, Olutomi Aregbesola, who pointed out that the issue has been on for a while now.
Aregbesola revealed that two passport printers are currently stationed in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., one of which remains idle. It alleged that the refusal to deploy the idle printer to New York or Atlanta stemmed from unfounded concerns by the former Minister of Interior that such a move might create discontent among the missions.
“This reasoning defies logic and reflects a lack of informed and strategic decision-making,” OAN stated, pointing out that this inaction has led to unnecessary travel expenses for immigration officers, security risks, and delays in service delivery.
“The New York Consulate serves the largest jurisdiction in the United States, with a high concentration of Nigerians, yet it lacks a passport printer. OAN called this situation unacceptable in 2025.”
The statement highlighted the severe implications of this neglect, which include public frustration, growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians in the U.S. risks undermining confidence in the Nigerian government’s ability to deliver essential services.
He also pointed out the risk associated with the practice of immigration officers traveling monthly to Washington, D.C., to print passports, which poses a threat to national security as it exposes Nigeria’s national database to potential breaches, damage to Nigeria’s Image abroad amongst others.
To address the issue, OAN and its partner organizations urged the Ministry of Interior to redeploy the idle printer in Washington, D.C., to the New York Consulate and deploy an additional printer to Atlanta without further delay.
The groups also called for a transparent investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the delay in resolving this issue.
They also urged the government to provide a clear timeline for addressing the passport production challenges at the New York and Atlanta Consulates.
“We trust that this matter will now be treated with the urgency it deserves,” the statement concluded, urging the Honourable Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to act swiftly,” the statement added.
OAN reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of Interior and other stakeholders to ensure sustainable solutions for Nigerians abroad.
The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the welfare, culture, and interests of Nigerians living in the United States. OAN works to foster unity and address challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora.
