As the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opens on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, President Bola Tinubu has directed the ministry of foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for government officials who have no business at the New York event.
A statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said the move is in line “with a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance 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.
Continuing, Ngelale said: “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.”
