Value of the Nigerian Passport must be valued, respected, says a Spanish-Nigerian

Nigerians in the Diaspora have often raised concern about difficulties they face in obtaining a Nigerian International Passport in some countries abroad.

On August, 1st, 2016, for instance, Nigerians reportedly assembled around their consulate in New York to protest against the consulate for not issuing passports to travelers and requiring them to pay for visas.

Even non-Nigerians like Franco-German coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr has expressed worry about the complications of getting a Nigerian passport for players born abroad, who are eligible to play for Nigeria.

Contrasting the view that the Nigerian passport is the right of every citizen and they need not go through hardship to obtain it, Princess (Mrs) Nwanne Campo, a Spanish-Nigerian by marriage, recently had good reason to declare in Spain that Nigerian passport should not be obtained just for the asking without thorough screening – and it should not be given to just anybody.

Mrs. Campo, The Daily Times has learnt, runs a Facebook page called “Nigerians living in Spain”. It is a platform for exchange through which many Nigerians, among other benefits, complain about the officials of Nigerian embassies in Madrid (Spain) and other European countries who refuse to offer the Nigerian passport to citizens.

“The way some people will rant and insult our diplomats, comparing Nigeria to some developed countries, you will think that these developed countries dish out residence permit or citizenship to every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

She recounts a recent encounter at the Nigerian embassy when she went to Madrid from Santander where she resides, to renew her ECOWAS passport at the Nigerian embassy.

“Just after I was attended to without any problem, it was the turn of a certain beautiful young lady and as she walked to the counter, the peace of the room was shattered as she screamed at the official attending to her.

“It turned out that the alert official simply asked the lady a simple question which every true Nigerian should know: What is the name of your Local Government Area? and she could not say it, although it was written in the form she submitted.”

Mrs. Campo recalled that the Nigerian embassy has recorded numerous cases where applications for passports by supposed Nigerians are turned down because they (the applicants) could not pronounce the name of their Local Government Areas.

“This kind of scenario often causes a stir amongst Nigerians in the embassy, probably because they think that being African and speaking English is enough reason to be given a Nigerian passport.

“Do they think that just anybody should be issued a Nigerian passport as if it has no value? Can they log into their social media account if they forget their passwords? Can they walk into a bank and demand to withdraw money from an account they claim is theirs – without a valid identification?,” she asked.

The unapologetic Nigerian explained that “Even the developed countries only give you the required documents to settle in their country when you can state your country of origin or Local Government Area.”

She then advised all Nigerians to learn to respect and appreciate their country and warned all those who insult the country at the slightest challenge to be careful for every utterance has a rebound effect.

Mrs. Campo hinted The Daily Times that when you become polite and law abiding in her married country, Europeans say “you are too polished to be a Nigerian.”

She further enjoined every Nigerian to uphold the good image of their great country everywhere they go in order to attract investors.

Franca Sulemyong