Sola Adeyemo 
Nigerians in Texas have raised serious concerns over the conduct of immigration officials during a recent passport renewal exercise in Dallas.
The exercise, which began on September 11 and concluded on Sunday, has been marred by allegations of extortion, as citizens were forced to pay an additional $150 in cash under the guise of “logistics fees” after having already paid the official passport fee.
A participant who spoke to New Telegraph, Mr Tunde Johnson, described the situation as outrageous, questioning the legitimacy of the extra charge.
According to him, “After paying the normal passport fee, they asked us to pay $150 in cash, saying it was for logistics. When we inquired what this was for, they gave no clear explanation other than that they had come down from Atlanta to help us.”
The immigration team conducting the exercise was reportedly sent from the Nigerian Embassy in Atlanta, Georgia, one of only three Consulates serving the entire United States, along with Washington, D.C., and New York.
The official cited the high number of Nigerians residing in Texas as the reason for setting up the temporary operation in Dallas, framing it as a favour to Nigerians who would otherwise have to travel to Atlanta for their passports.
However, those affected are not convinced. He said, “They told us we should be grateful that they came to Dallas and saved us the cost of flight and hotel. But why should we pay extra?
“These officials are being paid by the government, and all operational costs should be covered by the federal government, not out of the pockets of already struggling citizens,” a frustrated Nigerian lamented.
Many Nigerians who could not afford the additional $150 fee were reportedly left begging for leniency, but the officials refused to reconsider. Those on the receiving end of this questionable charge are appealing to the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently investigate and put an end to this exploitative practice.
Furthermore, they call for the establishment of a Nigerian Embassy or Consulate in Texas to better serve the vast Nigerian community in the state and avoid the recurrence of such incidents.
According to one of the affected persons, “This situation highlights a growing sense of dissatisfaction among Nigerians in the diaspora, who feel neglected and unfairly burdened by the very services meant to support them abroad”.
