Nigerians, both at home and overseas are paying the price of leadership without morality and empathy. While Nigerians at home continue to bemoan untamed perennial corruption by public office holders, those living overseas are not left out from official exploitation by those saddled with the responsibility of protecting and aiding their fellow countrymen in distant shores. LeadingReporters investigation revealed that Nigeria High Commissions overseas compel Nigerians who are desirous of having their international passports renewed to part with as much as N250,000 to secure a not-too-distant date for data capturing.

LeadingReporters, following complaints by some Nigerians living in diaspora, launched an investigation into series of allegations of exploitation by staff and officers in Nigeria high commission, especially the passport departments. This online media platform uncovered a well-planned-out strategy with which these staff of embassies, especially the diplomatic attaches from Nigeria immigration service hoodwink their fellow countrymen overseas into parting with their hard earned money.

How do they perpetrate this illegality? Those in charge of capturing the applicants’ data intentionally lock appointment date for as long as six months, claiming that all the dates have been booked. After paying all necessary official fee for passport renewal, applicants are given a website to book for appointment for data capturing. The website, upon opening displayed dates that have been booked and locked. This means that the applicants may have to wait for up to six months to be attended to.

For instance, a visit to the passport renewal site of Nigeria Embassy in Abu Dhabi leaves a message that the mission would only attend to passport application on appointment basis ONLY for Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the site, applicants are asked to select a month then choose a spot for their passports renewal. A click on the month and date of an applicant choice would reveal that such date has been booked and locked.

https://leadingreporters.com/how-staff-of-nigeria-high-commissions-defraud-nigerians-as-much-as-500-for-special-appointment-for-passport-renewals/