By Kamil Opeyemi
President Bola Tinubu on Monday barred Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials who are not directly connected and involved in any major activities in the coming United Nations General Assembly meeting holding in Nee York from traveling.
He has directed the to freezing of processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities.
A statement by Presidential aide, Ajuri Ngelale, said that to prevent any sharp practice, “the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.”
The statement said all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event. Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.
It added, “The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.”