President Bola Tinubu has ordered the State Department to suspend visa processing for government officials who are not on duty to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
A statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s special adviser to the media and the public, said the move was “part of a broader effort to reduce regulatory costs in Nigeria”.
Government officials without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities have been barred from making the trip, he said.
“To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority,” the statement reads.
“By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event.
“Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.
“The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.”
The 78th session of the UNGA will open on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
