Posted by Funmi Peter-Omale,Abuja on
The Federal Government yesterday officially protested the hardship Nigerian travellers face in securing travelling visas....
The Federal Government yesterday officially protested the hardship Nigerian travellers face in securing travelling visas.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said this yesterday in Abuja, while meeting with Heads of Foreign Missions, Ambassadors and the Diplomatic Corps.
Okonjo-Iweala said migrations could be both constructive and harmful to relations between countries and peoples, adding that Nigeria and represented foreign missions should be able to manage consular issues, especially as it relates to migration and visas, in mutually beneficial way.
According to her, "to be specific about aspects of these relations, Nigeria appreciates the fact that the foreign missions grant visas to a great number of Nigerians. However, I view with great concern, difficulties put in the way of many bonafide Nigerian travellers, who are daily denied visas for reasons which are unclear and sometimes quite unsatisfactory."
She expressed optimism that "there is room for more discussions on these matters, in the interest of promoting mutual understanding and relations between our governments and peoples. For example, we should endeavour to work positively towards the removal of all unnecessary visa restrictions which hinder legitimate travels by our nationals."
According to her, she was also aware of some difficulties being experienced by some members of the diplomatic community, regarding visas and introduction of new resident permit policy.
She assured that the Ministry and the Immigration Department were working assiduously to find permanent solution to the problem.
She said Nigeria values her relations with the international community, adding that as a lead player in Africa, the country would continue to strive to harness Africa's abundant resources and potentials towards achieving growth and development.
"However, the continent's development continues to be impaired by internecine conflicts and needless civil wars. Nigeria has always believed that without peace, security and stability, the quest for development will remain a dream."
The Minister said her tenure would retain focus on ensuring that the peace agreement reached recently in Abuja on Darfur is implemented and sustained. In conjunction with stakeholders, within Africa and beyond, we will keep an eye on the situation in the Congo DRC" she assured.
Okonjo-Iweala also said she'd focus on strengthening bilateral and multi lateral economic and trade cooperation. "We will pay attention to exploring how, through diplomacy, the goals of the Millennium Development Goals, for Nigeria, can be best realised."