The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, has summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Chris Cooter, to his office to register the government’s displeasure over the shabby treatment given to Nigerian visa applicants.
The summons was made public in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, in Abuja, on Friday.
According to the statement, Ashiru recalled the warm relations between the two countries, citing the example of the presence of a major Canadian company, Manitoba Hydro in Nigeria’s power sector.
The statement read in part, “It is against this background that the honourable minister expressed to the Canadian high commissioner his disappointment at the manner the Canadian Mission in Nigeria was maltreating Nigerian visa applicants, characterised by excessive delays in processing visa applications.
“The minister declared as unacceptable the waiting period of a minimum of 45 working days for Nigerian visa applicants to receive a response from the Canadian authorities.
“The minister concluded by suggesting to Ambassador Cooter that rather than his mission holding on to Nigerian visa applicants’ passports, the mission should make do with photocopies of the data pages and sight the passports.
“Thereafter, the passports can be surrendered to the mission only at the point of issuance of visas.
“This will allow passport holders the opportunity to use their passports for other travels, pending the approval of their visa application by the Canadian mission.”
In response, Cooter pledged to report the concerns expressed by the minister to the appropriate authorities in Ottawa.
Punch
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Goodwork Hon. Minister
ReplyDeletethis is ridiculous,i dont know what they do in that embassy.the application i made since may 18 is still with them and if u write them ,they will not respond.
ReplyDeleteLet them get out of this country if possible.
ReplyDeleteThey have no respect for Nigerians though, I do not blame them because our leaders are not leading by example besides, The Canadians and others don't here good things about Nigeria but all about evil; like misappropriation, looting , fuel subsidy scam, Ibori case, Access bank issue Erastus Daramola etc.
So how do you expect them to respect us. They don't even want you in their countries so that will not stain them.
finally... someone is doing something about this!! Mine took 4 months to come in!!! What on earth were they doing for 4 months!
ReplyDeleteSaying no after 4months of waiting and praying can be heartbreaking.Hope they will review this visa application process thing.Those with genuine intentions of travelling will be happy.
ReplyDeleteMy father in a canada the deny me visa
ReplyDeleteMy father is in canada bt they still deny me visa,if u are a nigerian d treat u bad
ReplyDelete