The Nigerian government has assured citizens that it would take up the issue of the suspension of visa drop box option by the United States of America.
Oluwole Oke, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs while speaking on Channels Television said he would engage with appropriate authorities to address the suspension of the visa drop service by the US government.
Oke who revealed that he is currently in the US said he would take the matter up after his meeting in New York.
“I am in the US. I will take this matter up. After finishing my meeting in New York, I will also be in Washington. We have a chargé d’affaires there, and I will discuss this issue with him to find a way to resolve it,” Oke said.
Last week, without prior information or announcement, the US government suspended the drop box service which allowed those who had visas that had expired within 24 month to apply for renewal without visiting the embassy for an interview.
However, the service was discontinued from the US embassy website without any information or reason from the government of America.
This has happened before, during the first tenure of US President, Donald Trump but was reactivated after the COVID-19 pandemic and global shutdown.
In his reaction, Oke said while it is the decision of the US to handle issues concerning its nation in whatever way the government deems best for its country, diplomacy allows for the principle of reciprocity to be applied.
“Unfortunately, this decision is theirs to make. I contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs to find out if he had any official communication on this matter, and he clearly stated that there has been no message from the United States about it,” Oke added.
He, however, expressed optimism that the US would reconsider some of its policies as Nigeria remains an important country on the global stage.
“Nigeria is a very important country in the world, and no nation would want to ignore us. Take it from me. We are a valuable asset, and the world is watching. I believe that in the future, we will benefit from the actions of President Donald Trump,” he noted.