UNGA: Only officials with direct roles can travel to US – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) without proof of direct participation in the official schedule of activities.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President(Media & Publicity), the directive is part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in the country.

The statement added: “To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.

“By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event. Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.”

It said the president affirmed that “henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.”