lost passports are now issued in London
the mission is not a Pandora box
time specification for immigration matters, etc
The African Voice had the privilege of an interview window with (Dr.) Dalhatu Tafida, OFR, CFR, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Great Britain at the Nigeria House office Northumberland Avenue recently. The Ambassador was very welcoming as we were ushered into his presence in the very serene office which had the ambience of personality and experience belying the onerous responsibilities which he shouldered with the able support of his Deputy, Ambassador O.K. Lawal and other tried and tested Ministers and staff of the High Commission.
His welcoming smile encouraged anyone to want to engage him in conversation and would always reveal his depth of experience in the political sphere and an attitude that readily diffuses every tension which a medical doctor usually has. And he is.
We soon settled to the business of the day and after appreciating the opportunity of the interview, Mike Abiola, Publisher of African Voice set the ball rolling.
African Voice: Is there a standard charter of service delivery relative to the issuance of visa and passports specifying prompt delivery dates relative to processing fees and yet not an express service with the Nigeria High Commission?
Ambassador Tafida: There are online payments made for the service required and $65 for the passport and a processing fee of £20 (when you have an old passport). When you are trying to obtain a passport occasioned by loss of passport, you are required to pay about £100. The fee varies. But this is subject to certifying that the applicant is a Nigerian. There is a service charter whose protocol requires that you make online payment and then there is a computer generated date for the applicant to visit the mission for further processing of the application. The number of Nigerians, being so many, that apply for the service reflects the time gap that occurs before the date of invitation to the mission.
African Voice: Is there a statutory number of days regulated for the processing of this service? And can one seek refund where this is not met.
Ambassador Tafida: Ideally, 8 – 10 days is envisaged but there can be situations, depending on individual circumstances, that may warrant otherwise. This is also subject to the computer capturing on an applicant’s document processing from a date is generated. After this period, of days predicated upon the captured date, an applicant may wish to seek a refund of the processing fee paid. I however do not see anything that should prevent anyone from getting his/her passport and a refund if the need arises.
African Voice: Nigerians complain about how this service operates particularly through service providers working with the mission particularly at Fleet Street.
Ambassador Tafida: Nigerians usually complain. They complain about not being able to pay online and we even had to allow the establishment of a business centre here to facilitate the ease of the complying with the procedure. The issue of payment was taken up with the Office at home and the Federal Government allowed that payments could be made through them here while the staffs here screened the applications and issued the passports
African Voice: The office use arrangement at Fleet Street; is it a Public/Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement or is the building rented?
Ambassador Tafida: The building is rented. And I think that the rent should be expired in about 4 -5 months’ time. This should then be renewed. The place was advertised for rent and the rent accrued has been paid into government coffers.
African Voice: Who is responsible for situations when people are espoused to Nigerians with their offsprings given Nigerian passports and find that they have to be subjected to visa conditionality when they travel in this instance? Claims that visas are denied them particularly when a Nigerian seeks a visa with British passport.
Ambassador Tafida: There must be some conditionality that has not been fulfilled otherwise visa denial will not just happen that way. The procedure for visa application is spelt out on the Mission’s website and this has to be followed. I do believe that there are rules guiding the application for visas and whatever grievances are had on this account should be brought to the mission for the necessary officials to deal with. If necessary bring them to me.
African Voice: Nigerians growing up in the UK are concerned about passport entitlement when they are married to foreigners and have been issued passports but are refused renewal.
Ambassador Tafida: I do not see why this should be refused. I know of a situation that the passport qualification of a spouse was also in question. But this is an issue that has to be followed according to the laws governing the relevant aspect as laid down by government. The experts interpret and their verdict will not contradict the rules laid down. I know that one of the conditionalities that may be requested of a person is that such a person would need to show evidence of having lived in Nigeria for a good while in that marital capacity.
African Voice: The issue of bank accounts also comes to reckon as a criteria for this class of people who are actually supposed to be kin to Nigerians in the least.
Ambassador Tafida: The bank account requirement is stated on our website and is similarly a requirement by other governments even the British. So we are not talking about anything very different from what others also state as a condition to be met.
African Voice: What do you have to say concerning those who are requested to have their birth certificates authenticated (when the names and dates of birth agree in both their passport and birth certificate) from here being Nigerians some of who want to attend schools particularly in Europe and such similar ventures? Why is such a service being charged for at the mission?
Ambassador Tafida: Well, we are not the ones who are making this request of these Nigerians and there is nothing we can do to influence what their requirements are. However, with regards to the charges, it is necessary to note that the charge is not made indiscriminately but a rule and the revenue is remitted to the Federal Government. If it was a policy instituted before my tenure, I cannot singly abrogate it when this is a core prerogative of government. A revenue charge has been determined here and anyone who comes in to state that he or she is abrogating that revenue charge may have to pay from his/her pocket. I cannot therefore interfere with certain issues of this nature particularly when it concerns immigration matters. I believe this is the same with other missions. It is technical though I have a responsibility to oversee the smooth running of all departments.
African Voice: The mission had a programme for the 5oth anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, which took some time to be made public. Does the mission have any similar plans for the centennial event of what has come to be the Nigerian state?
Ambassador Tafida: The country has stated that it has no plans to fund any activity and therefore the missions too. But we will support any organisation having programmes. A few organisations and people have notified us of their intention to host certain programmes for example art exhibition and we will do our best to attend in the least. We have no budgetary provision to support any activity in this regard financially. So if people or organisations have events and come forward to let us know, we will attend even if we are not invited but we will because we are Nigerians. Notwithstanding these, the Mission will be hosting its usual anniversary events to celebrate our independence day in October, 2013. We will host our diplomatic friends and Nigerians alike at different venues thereabout the 1st and 5th of that month.
African Voice: What is your take on democracy in Nigeria particularly the issue of rolling armoured personnel carriers against the faction of the new PDP in Abuja?
Ambassador Tafida: I don’t know so much about that but I think that a country that is trying to become democratic should try to accommodate everyone across board and absorb all the insults and problems that people have against it or for it. That is how political parties grow. You don’t fight people but the more you fight the more problems you face. However there must be a reason but I don’t know.
African Voice: Your Excellency, you are very strategic man l in the political sphere in Nigeria and with the President such that you served as the Director-General of the President’s campaign team. Would you advise that the President should contest the next elections?
Ambassador Tafida: I am not here to decide for the President. If he wants to contest, he is entitled to contest. I would not go into that. And as you ask if I would serve as D-G again, I would say I am too old to do that now.
Ambassador Tafida: From your span of diplomatic service, we would like you to share what challenging experiences you have experienced as an Ambassador.
African Voice: Don’t be deceived that I am an ambassador in the UK. My experiences here are limited but are much grounded in other fields of human endeavour. I am here as a politician with the trust of the Presidency to an effective ambassador of the Nigerian state to the United Kingdom.
African Voice: Similarly, we can look at your public service to Nigeria. What would you say has been the most challenging time you have had?
Ambassador Tafida: I think it is to be the Director-General of the President’s campaign organisation. It was very challenging. Looking back, it was something very dangerous but I was lucky I did it. I did two elections; the primary and the general elections and I did them very successfully. But all that time there was a lot of tension and people were always looking for money from me. Every day, I would get 4 to 6 text messages from those that I met saying that,’ we finished the campaign and you didn’t tell us anything, now they are sharing this, they are sharing that, but I tell them that I don’t share. I was just asked to go and be part of the team. Up till today people still ask me for something to be given for being part of the campaign whether from the US, UK, other parts of the world and particularly Nigeria. It was very challenging.
African Voice: There are people of Nigerian descent who feel that they have skills in various endeavours that needs to be harnessed. They feel they are not head-hunted and so usually find themselves giving their skills/talents to the government here. Does the mission have any scheme or policy to bring in these people?
Ambassador Tafida: I do not think this assessment is fair. I do not see myself as a boss and I have my doors open to anyone even you at just a few days notice. None of my officers see himself or herself as a boss. We have always served the people. Once someone speaks in ignorance about us, please tell them the truth. We are very open to our people and other missions may not look so accessible. I have done quite a lot for people in diaspora going to Nigeria and unless I am dissuaded to. The mission is certainly not a Pandora box.
African Voice: Recently, a British expatriate who served in Nigeria for about three years wrote a lengthy article in a Nigerian daily (The Herald) recounting corruption as rife and covering all aspects of public life in Nigeria. As a Senator and leading light, what do you recommend to the government?
Ambassador Tafida: This has been the talking point may be before I became a senator, may be for a much longer time. Corruption has more or less become the in-thing in Nigeria and if I were to be at the point where I can dictate, I will make sure that everything that I do is clear even with all those around me, the ministers, etc. When you are able to display what is beyond you, it is an evidence of corruption. But there is corruption everywhere but the rate in which journalists report corruption hypes it. There are countries with hundreds of year’s democratic experience and we can’t compare to these. Sooner or later, there won’t be any money to steal. People steal because they find money to steal, easy money from petroleum etc. You find people struggle to get a letter to the Minister of Petroleum or an establishment like NNPC so that they can get a document that gives them quick money in millions. Naturally they don’t want to be left out. But I have never done that, even as a simple medical doctor, and I will not do that.
African Voice: What is your final word to Nigerians, readers of the African Voice
Ambassador Tafida: It is the oldest African newspaper and widely circulated. You will need to increase your circulation to reach more people and Nigerians; and you may give it freely, though I know and commend your ability to sustain your continuity. I know hundreds of papers have started out like that but have not been able to remain in production.
