‘We are transforming Nigeria’s Consulate in US into centre of excellence for service delivery, diaspora engagement’

Ambassador Abubakar Jidda is the Consul General of the Consulate General of Nigeria, New York, USA. On the sidelines of the recent 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York, he spoke with LYDIA EKE, who visited the Nigeria House. Facilitated by Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi, country director of The Royal Commonwealth Society Nigeria, Jidda discussed his passionate determination to restore the institution’s dignity and functionality. Appointed in April 2024, Jidda oversees consular activities across more than 20 U.S. states, and with over two decades of diplomatic experience, he has set out to transform the Consulate into a centre of excellence for service delivery, culture, and diaspora engagement. Excerpts:

Kindly tell our readers the scope of your role as Nigeria’s representative in New York?

My name is Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, and I am the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York. Here, we cover 20 states. As you know, Nigeria has three missions in the United States: one in Washington, which is the capital and political seat, and also hosts the Embassy of Nigeria to the USA; and another in Atlanta, where my colleague, the Consul General, covers about 17 states.

Since assuming office in May last year, what challenges did you meet and how has the journey been so far?

It has been a roller coaster. When I arrived, Nigerians were facing serious challenges with consular services. Services were inadequate, and outreach was not sufficient. For instance, we had no passport printing machines here. Nigerians often waited as long as 3–5 months to get their passports. Both New York and Atlanta had to queue in Washington, where only two machines served the entire United States. Naturally, this caused delays and frustration because people needed passports to regularise their stay, travel home for Christmas, or attend urgent meetings in Nigeria.

Passport processing has been a big concern for Nigerians abroad. What was the situation when you arrived, and how was it resolved?

The situation improved in January when we received our own passport printing machine here in New York. That changed everything.

How quickly can Nigerians now access passport services at your mission?

As we speak, we can now deliver passports in just one day. That is a huge leap in terms of service delivery to our nationals.

What makes the New York Consulate different from the main Embassy in Washington?

Our mandate is very clear. While we handle consular services, our activities are not exactly the same as the embassy’s. We are uniquely focused on promoting trade and investment between Nigeria and the United States. We also promote Nigerian culture, arts, and entertainment.

Beyond consular services, what other roles does your office play in promoting Nigeria in the United States?

We actively engage investors within both the Nigerian community and the wider American society to attract investment into Nigeria. We also showcase our culture. For example, after our Independence Day celebrations, we will host the largest Nigerian Independence Day Parade outside of Nigeria, right here in New York. Events like this allow people to see our culture and recognise that Nigerians are peace-loving people. At the same time, they create platforms to promote investment opportunities back home.

How is your office working to change the narrative about Nigeria abroad, especially under the current administration’s foreign policy?

The government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced four pillars of foreign policy: democracy, development, demography, and diaspora. These guide our engagement abroad.

Looking at democracy as one of the foreign policy pillars, how would you describe Nigeria’s democratic journey so far?

Nigeria has come a long way since 1999. We have not had any interruptions in our democratic process. We have recorded peaceful transitions of power, including shifts from ruling parties to opposition parties. Even in cases where a sitting president died in office, the vice president smoothly took over. This democratic stability is what we want to entrench in the West African region and across the continent. That is why Nigeria insists, through ECOWAS and other organisations, that unconstitutional changes in government must be reversed and democracy restored.

Under development as a pillar, what efforts has the government made to attract investment into Nigeria?

Since taking office, President Tinubu has been intentional about bringing investment into Nigeria. Recently, he returned from Brazil, where Nigeria signed several agreements, including with subnational states. The government, alongside ministries and agencies, is determined to leave no stone unturned in pursuing this development agenda.

Nigeria’s population is projected to grow significantly. How is the government preparing to turn this demographic shift into an opportunity?

According to a UN report, our population will reach about 400 million by 2050, with nearly 70% under the age of 30. That is both a challenge and an opportunity. We cannot expect everyone to go through the university system; so, we are strengthening skills acquisition programmes, training young Nigerians in trades such as plumbing, carpentry, and ICT. In countries like Germany, skilled workers are highly valued, and India has taken advantage of global demand for ICT expertise. Nigeria must do the same, empowering youths to become employable locally and globally.

How important is the Nigerian diaspora to the country’s growth, and how is the government engaging them?

The diaspora is critical. Within their community are the expertise, experience, and funding that Nigeria needs. The President, in his wisdom, has prioritised engaging them. The Nigeria Diaspora Commission, working with missions abroad, is harnessing their skills and encouraging them to invest back home. Just recently, many diaspora Nigerians met with the Vice President and shared success stories. They are willing to go back, provided there is an enabling environment and proper incentives.

How are you ensuring closer engagement with Nigerians in your jurisdiction?

We created town hall platforms where Nigerians can voice their challenges and we can respond directly. Last year, for example, we were in Chicago and attended to about 500 Nigerians, delivering their passports within three months something that was not possible in the past. This kind of engagement builds confidence.

Some Nigerians complain about poor service or unfriendly attitudes at consulates. How are you addressing this issue?

Nigerians abroad need to be listened to. This is their home, and they deserve respect. If a service cannot be provided immediately, it is better to communicate openly rather than ignore them. Lack of response in the past made people feel abandoned. Now, through platforms like town halls and direct outreach, we are changing that narrative and making people regain confidence in their missions.

What steps have you taken to rebuild trust and confidence between Nigerians abroad and their missions?

We actively invite community leaders to our programmes, such as flag-raising ceremonies, and give them opportunities to speak. This engagement creates a sense of belonging and builds stronger trust between the community and the mission.

Finally, going forward, what plans do you have to improve communication, address challenges, and make Nigerians more comfortable with their missions abroad?

Communication is everything. Just like in marriage, where two people from different backgrounds must learn to understand each other, so must we with Nigerians abroad. When I first arrived, there was no passport machine. I personally pushed for months in Abuja until we got one. That persistence solved a big problem. Going forward, we want to build on such success stories, turn challenges into opportunities, and ensure that Nigerians are comfortable and proud of their missions abroad.