A Nigerian woman recently took to social media to criticize the Nigerian Embassy in Sweden for allegedly refusing assistance to citizens seeking to renew or obtain passports.
In a post she made on X, the woman shared that she visited the embassy two days ago for her passport renewal. She noted that several Nigerians had traveled from various European nations to Sweden specifically for their passport needs. To their dismay, they were informed by embassy personnel that they could not proceed due to a lack of "connection with Abuja." Consequently, everyone who had invested in travel to the embassy was sent back without their passports and instructed to return later.
She mentioned that some individuals she met at the embassy were experiencing this issue for the second time.
"I went to the Nigerian embassy in Sweden yesterday to renew my passport. You wouldn't believe what transpired. People had journeyed from Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and different locations within Sweden solely for their biometrics. Unfortunately, none were processed. The explanation provided was a lack of "connection from Abuja."
All of us, regardless of having appointments, had to leave without any passports. Our travel expenses, including flights, trains, and ferries, went to waste. We were simply told to return at a later date.
This situation showcases the disgraceful state of Nigeria. It is not the first occurrence, nor are these problems confined to the embassy in Sweden; other embassies are facing similar challenges. The ambassador in Sweden was genuinely compassionate, often coming down to interact with us and express his sympathies.
Historically, the Nigerian embassy in Sweden has been one of the most efficient for passport renewal in Europe. Previously, individuals could secure their new passports on the same day of their visit. Unfortunately, without the authority to print passports, the situation has deteriorated significantly.
One individual I spoke with mentioned that it was his second trip from Finland, and he encountered the same "no connection" issue once again. Unable to afford another flight back home, he opted to stay in a hotel instead. This is the first instance I have seen or heard of someone attending an appointment at their own country's embassy only to be turned away due to a lack of connection with headquarters, without any support for their travel costs. It’s outrageous!'
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