There is no spectacle here. The governor is not in the rain, there are umbrellas everywhere.

The situation at the Nigerian Embassy is a world wonder of the 21st century.

I took a 5 hour flight with my 6month old son to New York to get a brand new passport for baby and to change my name on my current passport after marriage We left home at 4:30am to the airport to catch our 6:45 flight. We got to the embassy doors at 9am sharp when they open.

First problem; I didn't bring separate money orders for myself and the baby. Una website no talk anything about 2 payments o! Hmm

2nd problem; the process of changing name takes 3-6months pending approval from Abuja! Dem no talk that one online at all!
So you can imagine my annoyance when I have to be pushing stroller all across New York City to buy another money order and then prepaid envelope so they can send us to approved passports.

Long story short, it has been over 3 months now and still no passport. Upon all our taking flight across the country, we have nothing to show for it.
The staff are disorganized, most of them look like they have no function and the others are just too rude to be the faces representing our great Nation. The facility is understaffed, under-equipped, and unprepared to do their jobs.

Small changes that won't cost much:

-Put A/C for the people, I take God beg you!
-Put changing table station in the bathroom for clients with babies (several women and I had to change their babies nappy on the bare floor. Haba!
-Answer your telephone!!! Your website is rubbish, so people need to call you to verify things!
-Update your website! This is the era of online information. Please get with the times and update your website! Give people accurate information about ALL aspects of passport applications, name change, time lines, quantities of items, etc.
-ALL Staff need a lesson/workshop on customer service! Be kind to people, treat them with respect and compassion. That is the Nigerian way. Even if they don't understand something, take patience to explain it to them. (I saw a woman spoken to so condescendingly she started crying, Haba! Grown woman with children, there is God o!)

I don't know how the other embassies are doing business but this New York office was a hellish experience. I've heard better things about the improvements at the Consulate in Canada! Learn from it.

So my people, if you're not looking to be angry, question your sanity, or fear you will almost kill another human being, please stay away from the Nigeria embassy in New York. What a disgrace! Shame Shame Shame!

The creation of GURARA State is a horrendous idea. This is not a matter of whether this civilian regime can demonstrate its power. And that should never be the driving-force behind state creation. The National Assembly must conduct an Economic Viability Assessment to discover whether the region of Gurara warrants the creation of its own state.

What does Gurara produce in State revenue? How many people does Gurara employ? What are the conditions of roads, schools, and hospitals in the Gurara? Creating a state out of that area cannot guarantee the provision of social amenities and infrastructure to the region.

State creation is a very strong move that is harder to dissolve. For example, tomorrow if the state is not doing well, the indigenes/settlers will find it very difficult to rejoin with their Kaduna and Niger State neighbours.

They want to put a knife and divide the things which hold us together, so that we will fall apart.

My fellow country people, please say 'No' to further State creation.