Nigerians in Italy slam critics of passport process, commend CG

Nigerians in Italy, on Tuesday, described as unpatriotic, attempts by some of the citizens to work against the efforts of the officials of the Nigeria Embassy in Rome, towards a seamless procurement of International travelling passports.

Reacting to a viral post on a Facebook platform, which disparaged the Embassy’s officials, the Welfare Officer of the National Union of Nigerians in Italy, NUNAI, Pastor Mike Oputteh, said such comments amounted to sabotage.

NUNAI reacted to a viral post by one Sunday Ogieva on his Facebook page, where he had accused the Embassy officials of compelling citizens in Italy to pay the sum of 150 Euro in the name ‘Urgent Scanning,” as fraudulent.

The Nigerian Embassy in Italy had through a letter dated 28th May 2021, with the caption “Resumption of Urgent Scanning” and signed by the Minister (Consular& Immigration), S.O Bello, announced that the embassy was “set to commence Urgent scanning /fast-tracking for the passport with effect from 31st May 2021.”

A portion of the letter reads, “The resumption of this service will attract the sum of 150 Euro (administrative charges inclusive). The service will target those that actually need a passport for urgent and important usage. It is not automatic even when the applicant is willing to pay.”

Pastor Oputteh, while refuting the allegation of fraud against the Embassy officials, described the allegation as “baseless and an outright mischief against the effort of the embassy staff and the Controller General of Immigration in ensuring that passport booklets are obtained with ease.”

Oputteh, who pointed out the fee had been in place before the new ambassador was deployed to Italy, called on Nigerians in Italy to approach the embassy for proper clarification and understanding on the policies and program of the Mission before making unsubstantiated and uninformed allegations in the social media.

He further appealed to the Control General of Immigration to consider sending a passport intervention team in addition to increasing the manpower of immigration staff.

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Nigerians in Italy slam critics of passport process, commend CG

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