Nigerians in Texas have expressed significant concerns regarding the behavior of immigration officials during passport renewals.
The event, which ran from September 11 to 15, has been criticized due to claims of extortion. Participants were reportedly required to pay an additional $150 in cash, labeled as “logistics fees,” on top of the official passport fee.
Mr. Tunde Johnson, a participant, described the situation as unacceptable and questioned the legitimacy of the extra charge. He explained that after paying the standard fee, officials demanded an extra $150 in cash for unspecified logistical reasons, claiming they had traveled from Atlanta to assist.
The immigration team, sent from the Nigerian Embassy in Atlanta—one of the three U.S. consulates for Nigerians—was reportedly in Dallas due to the large Nigerian population in Texas. They justified the temporary operation as a convenience to avoid long-distance travel to Atlanta.
Many Nigerians are skeptical. They argue that since the officials are government employees, all costs should be covered by the federal government, not by citizens already struggling financially. Those unable to pay the additional fee were left pleading for leniency, but officials refused to reconsider.
However, many Nigerians in other states where this team had also visited, have also expressed frustration over delays in receiving their renewed passports from the team. Some individuals who paid for renewals as far back as last year are still awaiting their passports after almost a year.
The affected individuals are calling for an investigation by the Nigerian Federal Government into these charges and are advocating for the establishment of a Nigerian Embassy or Consulate in Texas to better serve the large Nigerian community and prevent such issues in the future.
