Nigerian Missions in U.S. Hold Virtual Townhall, Address Diaspora Concerns

Three Nigerian missions in the United States — the Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Consulates General in New York and Atlanta — jointly hosted a virtual townhall meeting on Sunday to address issues affecting Nigerians in the U.S. and counter misinformation online.

The meeting, which ran from 7:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. (New York time), attracted hundreds of participants who engaged directly with diplomats on matters ranging from passports and visas to trade, investment, and Nigeria’s national image.

Acting Ambassador to the U.S., Samson Itegboje, announced that both New York and Atlanta consulates now have their own passport printers, in addition to the two in Washington, to speed up processing. He urged Nigerians to avoid last-minute applications, saying, “We don’t want any Nigerian to suffer, but we can’t do magic.”

The diplomats stressed the importance of constructive criticism while warning against misinformation. New York Consul-General Abubakar Jidda said negative and misleading portrayals of the missions harm Nigeria’s image, urging Nigerians to “help us to help them.” Atlanta Consul-General Auwalu Namadina called for ongoing dialogue, noting that fixing Nigeria “is not for some, but for everybody.”

Participants commended the missions for improved service delivery, with Patience Key, former president of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) America, describing the session as “a masterclass in listening, correcting falsehoods, and charting solutions.”

The meeting ended with an invitation for Nigerians in the U.S. to attend the 2025 Independence Day Parade and Carnival in New York in October.