Tinubu bars FG officials having no direct participation in UNGA from travelling
Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that the U.S. assistant secretary for African affairs, Molly Phee, when hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday, said that Tinubu is the only African leader President Joe Biden wants to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, quoted her as saying, “President Joe Biden is asking to meet with you on the sidelines of UNGA, and you are the only African leader he has requested to meet,”.
On his part, Tinubu said he is working to create prosperity for Nigerians.
“Yes, the private sector will lead the way within an enabling environment we create for them, but the US Government must be innovative in its thinking and systematically create incentives for US industrial investment in Nigeria,” he said.
“Under my leadership, Nigeria stands ready to address their specific regulatory, tax and environmental concerns.
“I am determined to create prosperity for all Nigerian families.”
Meanwhile, Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s spokesperson, in a statement on Monday, said the directive was part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, adding that to prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria was accordingly guided on official visa processing. At the same time, Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.
The president’s spokesperson said by this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies were asked to ensure that all officials who were approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation strictly limited the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event, adding that where excesses or anomalies in this regard were identified, they would be removed during the final verification process.
The President stressed that henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.
