How Nigerian Embassy Officials In Rome Fleece Citizens Seeking To Renew International Passport– Victim

… Envoy Denies Knowledge Of Exploitation

The Nigerian Embassy in Italy has been accused of fleecing Nigerians seeking to renew their international passport.

The Embassy of Nigeria in Rome which has a magnificent structure is located at Via Orazio, 14/18.

For Nigerian passport holders abroad, it is required that every five years, their passport is renewed. Same is also required for passport holders in Nigeria.

But the Nigerian, based in Italy, who gave his name as Nosa, confirmed his ordeal of securing a passport.

THE WHISTLER understands that passport renewal for an adult goes for $106 for a 32-page booklet, while the 64-page Passport costs $137.

Minors are to pay $77 for the 32-page booklet and then $137 for the 64-page booklet.

But the embattled victim confirmed to THE WHISTLER that he had to pay the $137 and an additional $200 to bribe an official at the Embassy.

This is around $362.76 which is an equivalent of N149,366 using official rate.

The victim who narrated his story alleged that embassy officials demanded for extra pay to release the passport.

According to him, on the Embassy’s website, passport seekers cannot book appointment until 2024.

He wrote via a tweet, “The embassy of Nigeria in Rome is a big shame to Nigerians. Everyone needs to know what these people do. After writing this they may never renew my Nigeria passport anymore. I don’t even care if they do, but they need to stop extorting Nigerians.

“My wife needed to renew her Nigerian passport, I paid for 64 pages booklet. I did this because most times if you pay for 32 pages booklet, they will come up with stories like booklet is not available. And use it to delay your passport. The 64 pages cost more than 32 pages.

“Then I went to the embassy website to book the appointment date. There was no appointment. Take a look at the screen recorded video. You will notice that there is no appointment now till January 2024. I decided to stop there. There is no appointment even till 2080.

“The wonderful thing is that the embassy keeps issuing passports without appointments. The reason will shock you.

“To be able to renew your passport you will have to pay an unofficial amount of money. The amount varies from the person helping you to do it.

“In my wife case we paid $200 more to someone there to help us renew the passport. This is just to bribe them to do the passport. Even after paying them $137 they were not satisfied. They still wanted me to bribe them to release the passport.

“Upon entering the embassy, her cellphone was collected from her. She was obligated to submit her cellphone before entering the embassy.

“What could they be scared of? Someone might video their corrupt activities and leak it? She gave them her cellphone and entered inside.

“Just because of their dubious activities I have refused to request the issue of Nigeria passport for my kids. I can’t pay €600 for my two kids and myself. Then pay the official amount of $411. Transport to Rome from where I live for three of us is like €150.

“That’s approximately €1000 just to get 3 international passports. I need to spend over 500k Naira to get three passports because of the embassy extorting us and @NigeriaMFA is quiet. Shame on you for allowing this.”

But he told the website that he has been contacted by the embassy, adding that the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Mfawa Abam, denied knowledge of the extortion at the embassy.

Abam also pledged that there will be a change since the matter has come to his notice.

According to the victim, the appointment booking is now open for citizens on the website of the embassy in Rome. THE WHISTLER can confirm the development.

He said in a separate tweet, “Now they can book and get their passports without bribing anyone. This is what we wanted.

“During my discussion with the ambassador, I asked him various questions regarding the corrupt practices around the embassy.

“He assured me that he was not aware of such, and as a matter of fact he will definitely look into it and fix the situation immediately.

“He also assured me that anytime I need to do my international passport that the embassy will be there to get it done without extra charges.

“He explained how hard he is working to offer better services to Nigerians in Italy.”