Nigerians in the United States, represented by the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), have called on the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address the ongoing passport printer crisis at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta.
In a petition, the group expressed disappointment that despite raising the issue a year ago, no official response has been received.
In a statement issued to Vanguard and signed by OAN President Olutomi Aregbesola, the organization expressed frustration over the inefficiency that has plagued the passport processing system in both consulates.
Aregbesola highlighted that the absence of functioning passport printers in New York and Atlanta has caused significant hardship, leaving many Nigerians stranded without valid passports.
The crisis has created difficulties for those needing to travel for emergencies, work, or family matters.
The group pointed out that two passport printers are available at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., with one of them currently unused.
OAN suggested that the failure to deploy the idle printer to New York or Atlanta stems from “unfounded concerns” raised by the former Minister of Interior, fearing it might cause discontent among the missions.
Aregbesola criticized this reasoning, calling it illogical and a sign of poor decision-making.
The group also noted the financial strain and security risks caused by the delays, as well as the inconvenience faced by Nigerians in the affected regions.
They pointed out that the New York Consulate serves the largest jurisdiction in the U.S. with a significant Nigerian population, yet remains without a functioning passport printer. OAN called the situation unacceptable in 2025.
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