ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- President Bola Tinubu has instructed Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Rwanda to address delays in passport renewal services that have prevented Nigerians from renewing travel documents and obtaining passports for newborn children.
The President also reaffirmed his commitment to transparent governance during an interactive session with Nigerians residing in Rwanda.
The delegation included 28 PhD holders, chief executives of multinational firms, United Nations officials and a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, was coordinated by the Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who informed the President that the delegation consisted of some of the most accomplished Nigerians across Africa, contributing to sectors such as education, hospitality, ICT, business and sports.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday titled ‘I Will Continue To Work Hard Until We Realise Our Dreams, President Tinubu Assures Nigerians In Rwanda.’
Tinubu praised the Nigerian community for representing the country positively and stated that his administration’s reforms were beginning to produce results.
He said, “Our reforms are working, and the economy is bright and stable. We owe every Nigerian, both at home and abroad, the provision of the enabling environment to break and lead in all spheres.
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“To the students and professionals here, I promised today that Nigeria will be governed transparently. I will lead with sincerity regardless of tribe or any other considerations.”
The President urged Nigerians to reject tribal and ethnic divisions, emphasising that the Nigerian flag symbolises unity among all citizens irrespective of background.
“The Green-White-Green flag means so much to all of us. None of us has direct control over where we are born. God has that prerogative. Your tribe does not matter, as you have no control over where you are born or who your parents are,” he said.
Tinubu also referred to Rwanda’s recovery after the genocide, noting that he was inspired by the country’s ability to move beyond its past and focus on the future. He encouraged Nigerians to adopt a similar mindset.
He further directed Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ibrahim Zanna, to collaborate with NIDCOM and the Presidency in addressing concerns related to tapping into the economic and intellectual contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora.
One of the major issues raised during the session was the lack of a passport office at the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali.
Chairman of the Association of Nigerians in Rwanda, Prof Umar Wali, who moved to Rwanda in 2005 as a Technical Aid Corps volunteer and currently serves as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Lay Adventists in Rwanda, informed the President that many Nigerians in the country faced challenges renewing passports and securing travel documents for newborns.
“There is no Passport Office at the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali, and many members of our community face difficulties renewing passports and obtaining passports for newborn babies,” he said.
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Among those present at the meeting was Michael Masai Ujiri, Nigerian-Canadian former professional basketball player and President of NBA club Dallas Mavericks.
Ujiri told the President he was committed to transforming Nigeria’s sports infrastructure into a modern and investment-driven sector, citing his experience in Rwanda as an example.
He explained that he had established the Zaria Court, an integrated sports and hospitality facility in Rwanda, and expressed interest in replicating similar projects in Nigeria.
The Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr Olugbemi Adekakan, also stated that he hoped to replicate his work in Nigeria and requested presidential support.
Fatima Attahiru, Programme Manager of the Timbuktoo Africa Initiative at the UNDP in Kigali, said the agency was open to collaborating with the Nigerian government on skills acquisition and human capital development initiatives. A student, Kelechi Anyanwu, also spoke during the session.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Sulaiman Halilu, said NASENI had introduced diaspora-oriented programmes aimed at enabling Nigerians abroad contribute to national development.
In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa commended Nigerians in Rwanda for their conduct, saying they had consistently projected a positive image of Nigeria internationally.