******NIDO Africa Lambasts Foreign Affairs Over “Snail Speed Approach” To citizens Welfare
*******NIDO Africa Lambasts Nigerian Embassies’ in Libya, Tunisia, Mauritania, Others Over Neglect On Welfare of Diaspora Nigerians.
******* “We Will Report Periodically, The Performance of Nigerian Embassies On Welfare of Nigerians” -NIDO Africa
********”Embassies Frustrating Our Intervention Efforts To Support Vulnerable Citizens” -NIDO Africa
******NIDO Africa Urges Nigerian Embassies’ To Stop Prioritizing Self-promotion Over Welfare of Nigerian Citizens Abroad
By Victor Bieni
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Africa, Prof. Jude Osakwe, has criticized Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs over “snail speed” approach to the welfare of Nigerians living abroad on the African continent as he laments and alleges constant, numerous reports of some Nigerian Embassies’ negligence, bureaucratic processes, which is a disturbing trend, over the urgent needs of distressed citizens.
Delta Uhuru Media (News Online) learnt this from Professor Jude Osakwe, a renowned Professor of Information Technology (IT) and Chairman of NIDO Africa, today being Thursday, May 7, 2025 in a release on the outcome of the group’s Leadership Workshop made available to some group of Journalists in Ikeja, Lagos State capital.
Prof Jude Osakwe has in the release detailed instances of apathy, unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, and a general lack of responsiveness from these diplomatic missions.
This statement by NIDO Africa Chairman on the outcome organization’s press conference stated as follows: “These shortcomings are leaving vulnerable Nigerians stranded and without critical support. We have singled out the Nigerian embassy in Libya for particular condemnation. The staff are more preoccupied with personal businesses than attending to welfare of Nigerians in the country”.
“That Good examples are Nigerians facing mistreatment and illegal detention currently ignored by the embassy, even those with urgent pleas for assistance were reportedly instructed to submit formal letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja – a directive deemed unhelpful and insensitive given the often-dire circumstances because no one will respond to these letters”.
“To rescue this ugly trend, NIDO stepped in themselves, in collaboration with NIDO Libya, to engage the Libyan government agencies in establishing a database of Nigerians residing and working in Libya. However, even that initiative was hampered when the embassy told NIDO to go to Abuja and seek permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.
“There was also, a tragic case involving a Nigerian woman who died in the desert while traveling from Libya to Tunisia with her two children a year ago. One of her children also died with her in the process”.
“That while NIDO Africa managed to rescue the surviving child, the Nigerian embassy in Tunisia allegedly presented obstacles to their efforts to secure documentation and travel arrangements to reunite the child with family in Nigeria”.
“That the embassy reportedly demanded a death certificate of the mother, despite her having been buried in the desert, before releasing the necessary travel documents. That it took a huge effort and persistence from NIDO Africa before the embassy finally released the necessary documents. As we speak, the child has been reunited with his family/.”
“That currently, NIDO Africa is contending with another distressing case involving two Nigerian minors stranded in Tunisia. Both Children are not up to 5 years old. Their mother is imprisoned, their father is a refugee in Algeria, and while the children are being cared for by caregivers in Tunisia. NIDO Africa has been waiting since January for the embassy to secure approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue travel documents for their repatriation to their maternal grandfather in Nigeria”.
“That the embassy has confirmed consent from the father and maternal grandfather and efforts did not yield needed results due to Tunisian law, to visit the mother in prison. That the delay continues to endanger the children’s well-being and their vulnerable situation. NIDO Africa frowns at Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs over “snail speed” as regards bureaucracy, suggesting it is exacerbating the children’s vulnerability”.
“That NIDO Africa expressed widespread frustration with the lack of responsiveness from many Nigerian embassies, stating that many Diasporans now prefer working with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) due to their proactive and attentive approach”.
“That NIDCOM is already willing to receive the children and facilitate their handover to family, and NIDO Africa will also be on ground in Nigeria to see to the formal hand over of the children to the family. But the bottle neck in the Ministry is very frustrating”.
“That NIDO Africa has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently address these issues and provide more robust support to Nigerian embassies across the continent, ensuring they are better equipped to assist Nigerians in need”.
“NIDO Africa also urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to hold negligent embassies accountable. The above concerns by NIDO Africa also highlights the situation in Senegal, where the Nigerian embassy is responsible for Mauritania. The organization claims the embassy hasn’t visited Mauritania in years, despite the ongoing crisis there affecting numerous foreigners in that country”.
“That NIDO Africa will now be releasing a periodic review of the performance of Nigerian embassies, holding them accountable for their treatment of Nigerian citizens abroad. Osakwe praised embassies in countries like Mozambique, Malawi, Liberia, Namibia, and Ghana for their open-door policies”.
The Chairman then warned that NIDO Africa will henceforth view seriously, any embassy who plays with the welfare of Nigerians.