Nigerian e-Passport and Nigerians Abroad: A Classic Ripoff

As defined in literature (Wikipedia), a ripoff (or rip-off) is a bad deal. Usually it refers to an incident in which a person pays too much for something. A ripoff is distinguished from a scam in that a scam involves wrongdoing such as fraud; a ripoff, on the other hand, is in the eye of the beholder. A scam might involve, for instance, a scheme in which a person pays $20 for a startup kit related to stuffing envelopes for a living, but the kit never arrives; upon receiving the money, the recipient flees. A ripoff, on the other hand, might be a business opportunity in which a person pays $375 for bulk vending machines worth $75. The fact that the advertised product actually arrives – even though it is worth far less than the purchase price – makes it a ripoff, not a scam.

Not content with the daily looting of treasuries, bribes and all other forms of corruption perpetrated on the Nigerian people, home and abroad, it seems officials of the Nigerian Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has devised a very innovative way of ripping off Nigerians who live abroad.

It is the cost of the new e-Passport.

If you live in Nigeria, the cost of the e-Passport is 8,750 Naira. This, taking US$1.00 to be 175 Naira, and British £1.00 to be 250 Naira, translates to US$50.00 and British £35.00 respectively. Please note that there will always be fluctuations in the exchange rate every time.

If you are applying from outside Nigeria, the cost is US$110.00, translating to a whooping 19,250 Naira or British £75.00. It is outrageous. I do not have to be a rocket scientist to know that this a government trying to make money from Nigerians living outside the country on the misplaced premise that these set of Nigerians are making their money in hard currencies like the Dollar and the Pound.
What this means is that were I to be living in Nigeria, I could get two e-passports for two of my children instead of one, and still have change left.

I can understand if there is an add-on cost of maybe £10 to £15 to cover administrative costs of processing the e-passports from Nigeria and then sending them abroad in bulk, but charging well over twice the amount for the same product fits snuggly with the above definition of a ripoff.

Furthermore in the UK, as from 5th May 2009, the Nigeria High Commission will be adding £50.00 to the cost of the application to cover, as they said, administrative costs, since the $110.00 per e-Passport is repatriated directly to the Nigeria Immigration Service. This means the total cost of applying to have a Nigerian e-Passport in the UK will be £125.00.

This is one hefty sum, but because the mentality in Nigeria in general is that those Nigerians living abroad literarily pick money off the ground, from gold-lined streets or grow money on trees, this perception adheres even in the bureaucracy. And of course, knowing our government officials, they will probably embezzle the vast proceeds from their ripoffs, and only an infinitesimal amount of it will end up in the government coffers. Pardon me, but I just find it extremely difficult to trust our bureaucrats, civil servants and politicians, not to talk of the uniformed services such as Immigration, Prisons, Road Safety, Customs, and, you guessed it, the Police.

I will nevertheless give some credit and commend both the Nigeria Immigration Service and our Diplomatic Missions abroad for making the application for Passports a bit technologically modern, less arduous and less chaotic than previously, but the costs is a big concern, I am sure, to many Nigerians living abroad.
The application process itself could be revised. Before you can apply, you need to have a Google e-mail account. It is from your Google account that you can now go on to the Nigeria Immigration Service website and enter your details. Why force people to have Google accounts?

Another flaw in the application procedure is that when you scale through the application and payment processes, you are then allocated an Interview date. Unfortunately, what you are given is a date to attend an interview, bring in the required documents, but there is no Interview time given. This kind of makes it a free for all, because it means first come first served, and you may spend the whole day at the High Commission. This should be reviewed and put right.

So how do we complain about this rip-off deliberately directed at Nigerians living abroad?

Nigerians abroad can contact the Nigeria Immigration Service on http://www.immigration.gov.ng and email them at info@immigration.gov.ng or write them at Nigeria Immigration Service, Old Federal Secretariat Complex, Area 1, Garki , P.M.B. 38, Garki, Abuja or Fax them on +234-9-2341550.

We should also protest this ripoff to Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives and the overseeing Ministry of the Interior at their appropriate addresses in Abuja.

A concerted protest might help, but we should not just sit back and watch while they rip us off everytime.

PRESS RELEASE: Halliburton Scandal: Let’s call a spade a spade!

DATELINE: London United Kingdom
18th April 2009

To The Great and Good People of Nigeria:

INTRODUCTION:

We, The Champions For Nigeria Organisation wish to sympathize with you for all your endurance and diligence in the face of avoidable economic hardship, socio-cultural deterioration and political despondency caused as a result of the greed, selfishness, inconsideration, mismanagement, corruption and visionless leadership of our leaders.

Looters with stolen and rigged mandates live in affluence, openly insult our collective intelligence and squander our collective resources and wealth without regard to us and the consequences, while the majority of Nigerians live in poverty, starvation, fear and great inconvenience.

Champions For Nigeria believe that corruption is arguably the major problem we have in Nigeria today that is preventing Nigeria from achieving any semblance of greatness or even socio-economic growth and development. And we know those who are perpetrating this evil monster on us; we know those who are still bent on keeping the majority of Nigerians as serfs and slaves long after colonialism – the inept ruling clique.

The recent catalogue of distressing, outrageous and profound revelations of blatant and reckless corruption and bribery, plundering of the nation’s treasury by a few clique, started during Abacha’s ignominious regime and continued into Obasanjo’s “holier-than-thou” administration and now being covered up by the lame-duck Presidency of Yar ‘Adua is a testimony yet again to the fact that despite all the noise of the war against corruption, nothing has really changed. The looters are still in charge, and actually admitting new looters everyday to join their evil enclave.

Of particular interest is the allegation of massive, unbelievable, bribery and corruption against three successive governments (Abacha, Abdulsalam and Obasanjo) and other top government officials by Halliburton, a United States-based company engaged in building Africa’s first liquefied natural gas plant in Nigeria.

Awashed with undisputable facts about the Halliburton bribery scandal, this is a true litmus test for the rule of law mantra of Yar A'dua government. The fact remains that in Nigeria's political space dogs don't eat dogs. It has been proven again and again. This is a behaviour that helps perpetuate corruption and bold-faced illegality in the dealings of individual and agents of government on behalf of Nigerians, without regard to the consequences of that behaviour and the effect on the image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Unless you are not in the good books of the government of the day, whatever action or inaction a highly placed official or representative of government takes, there is no reprimand. Halliburton scandal is going down the annals of unsolved sticky issues in Nigeria political life and the world is watching the unfolding drama once again. It is obvious that, there is a deliberate effort by the incumbent government to cover up, but the fact that this is a scandal of International dimension is what is keeping this matter in the public domain. Hence, the setting up of a lack lustre enquiry committee to look into the matter that is as plain as the broad day light.

Name and shame the culprits! That is what this scandal demands! Let the Yar A'dua Government start the rebranding programme by showing commitment to the following agenda in respect of the Scandal:

The Champions For Nigeria therefore calls for the following:

Liaise with foreign governments to determine names of bribe-takers
The Halliburton scandal is the lever for uncovering high profile corrupt practices in Nigeria and it will help to further the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country. Nigeria government must therefore liaise with the US counterpart to uncover the names of the Nigerian bribe-takers in Nigeria.

Release and publicise the names of the bribe-takers to the public.
We want the government to show transparency by naming and shaming those officials involved in this transactions and mess. When the names of the Nigerian officials, high and low, who partook in the bribe taking, are known, their names must be published immediately. This will serve as a great deterrent to future thieves and bribe-takers if they know the authorities will nit hesitate to publish and publicise their names into the public domain.

Explore known international treaties
Show cooperation with the international community in order to forestall such activities in the future. Nigeria should explore all international treaties with all the countries concerned including USA and Switzerland to ensure adequate information and evidence are available for a valid legal prosecution in Nigeria. The treaty between Nigeria and USA on Mutual Legal Assistance is one example of the treaties that must be explored and used to the advantage of Nigeria in the corruption fight.

Apply Nigerian law evenly
Allow the law to take its course and justice to prevail in line with the rule of law mantra of the government. Nobody is above the law in Nigeria. If the names of the alleged bribe-takers are known and evidence gathered, they should be arrayed before a competent court in Nigeria without preferential treatment. The successful prosecution of Nigerian bribe-takers will ensure the fight against financial corruption in Nigeria is on course.

No secrecy as case is in public interest
The Nigeria government must avoid secrecy in the legal case against any Nigerian bribe-takers because this case maintains a high public interest. Any attempt to keep secrecy in this case would be counter-productive and could lead to further abuse of public office with impunity.

No plea bargaining
The Nigeria government must avoid legal plea bargaining. Criminals must be brought to justice. If criminals are found guilty of their crimes, they must face the consequence of their actions as stipulated in the laws of Nigeria. Legal plea bargaining will allow criminals to continue their criminal intents while escaping the law and it will allow new criminals to explore more corrupt opportunities to defraud Nigeria.

Identify and confiscate assets
Repatriate the bribery funds that have already been traced to Swiss bank account (s) and disclose the identity (ies) of those having historical interactions with the account(s). All the proceeds of crime recovered from the Nigerian bribe-takers must be accounted for including their local and known international assets. The assets and all proceeds from the crime must return to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Promulgate laws to bar bribe-takers from public office
Strengthen the regulatory laws that guide international business interactions between Nigerian government and other entity. Criminals who steal public fund in one way or another should be stopped from taking any public office in Nigeria in the future. This should include bribe-takers who collaborate with foreign firms to dupe the country, Nigeria.

Furthermore:

We call on the Authorities and Government to review all allied contracts with a view to ensure that level playing ground and meritocratic due process prevail in the ways and manner the contracts were awarded

Clean up our image in the International community by showing more transparency in the conduct of business dealings with other nations and business entities.

Let’s call a Spade a Spade...that would help reshape our brand!

"-30-"

Signed:

For and on behalf of CHAMPIONS FOR NIGERIA Organisation.
(http://www.championsfornigeria.org )

Akintokunbo A Adejumo (UK) +44 7939 804 121 (champions@championsfornigeria.org )
Bernard Owen Imarhiagbe (UK)
Ephraim Adinlofu (UK)
Ade Adewolu (UK)
Taghogho Agarin (USA)
Olayiwola Ajileye (UK)
Odimegwu Onwumere (Nigeria)
Owolabi Dada (UK)
Dapo Williams (UK)
Adebayo Adejuwon (Canada)
Kola Afolabi (France)

Omoseye Bolaji, A Nigerian Author’s Exploits In South Africa

Every so often, we come up with unsung and unknown heroes of our land, people who have made contributions in various disciplines, putting Nigeria on the map and promoting the many positive characteristics of our people. For the sake of brevity, I need not mention names, but I am always proud to mention the names of noble Nigerian Giants of Literature like our own Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Chinua Achebe, the late Cyprian Ekwensi, TM Aluko, Ken Saro-Wiwa, etc. New Nigerian literary figures abound too.

One of the latter is Omoseye Bolaji, who has become something of a celebrity in, wait for it, The Republic of South Africa. Personally, I am proud to say that Omoseye Bolaji is a cousin of mine, an Ibadan man born to the late Chief Simeon Labanji Bolaji, my uncle and role model in the 60s and 70s, who was Managing Director of The Sketch Group of Newspapers in Ibadan in the early 70s, and my Auntie, Mrs Bolanle Bolaji, still alive. Late Chief Bolaji’s pen-name in those days was “Eselby” in the Daily Sketch and Sunday Sketch, so I am not surprised by Omoseye’s exploits in literary writing. His pedigree speaks for itself. His late father was also a member of my church society, Emmanuel Society of St Peter’s Church, Aremo, Ibadan.

As far as I know, the only accolade and honour bestowed upon this young man, Omoseye, in Nigeria was the conferment of his late father’s title, Onigegewura (Owner of the Golden Pen) of Ibadanland by the current Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Odulana, in 2008, to mark the first anniversary of his accession to the throne.

Omoseye Bolaji, is an award winning black African writer who over the years has contributed phenomenally to the growth of Black Literature at grassroots level in South Africa, especially in the Free State. Bolaji is a novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, literary critic, biographer, editor and journalist.
Work

Omoseye Bolaji's published fiction is renowned for its unexpected, often shattering endings. His published works of fiction are The Termagant (1988), They Never Say When (1994), Impossible Love (2000), Tebogo Investigates (2000), The ghostly Adversary (2001), The Guillotine (2001) Tebogo's spot of bother (2001), Tebogo Fails (2003), People of the Townships (2003), Ask Tebogo (2004), Tebogo and the Haka (2008), and Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009). He has also published a play, The Subtle Transgressor (2006.) His poems are collected under Snippets (1998) and Reverie (2006). His other general works include Eagles at USA 94 (1994), The story of Collins Mokhotho (2000), Fillets of Plaice (2000),Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002) Molebogeng Alitta Mokhuoa (2004), and, My Opinion (2005). In 2007 Omoseye Bolaji published Poems from Mauritius (ISBN 978 0 9584556 9 5) and My life and literature.

Analysts of Bolaji's books (in some of the published studies referred to, below) point out that he has been heavily influenced by writers like Sidney Sheldon, Dick Francis, and Agatha Christie who highlight the unexpected in their work. For examples in Impossible Love, an intriguing gentleman suddenly finds himself inadvertently in love with his own daughter; in People of the Townships, a young man readers have come to empathise with is ultimately exposed as a cold-blooded murderer; and in Tebogo Investigates, a charming, amiable young lady turns out to be a ruthless killer.

Bolaji has been editor of South African publications such as Free State News, Kopanang magazine, E and E magazine, and is now editor of CHOICE magazine.

Omoseye Bolaji's awards and honours include the following: Sports Writer of the Year (2000) courtesy of the Eclectic Writers Club of Bloemfontein; recipient of the Community Publishing Project (CPP) grant (2003) from Cape Town's Centre for the Book; Free State Author of the Year (2003) for his novel, People of the Townships; Certificate for penning enthralling Fiction (2006), courtesy of Phoenix Literary Club, Ladybrand; and the "Lifetime Achievement Award" (2007) from the Free State Department of Sport, Art and Culture. In September 2007, the University of the Free State conferred the Chancellor's Medal on Omoseye Bolaji, in appreciation of his contributions to grassroots literacy and literature. ]Bolaji was also conferred with a Chieftaincy title by the Olubadan (King) of Ibadanland in Nigeria, again thanks to his contributions to African literature.

Studies (books) already published on Omoseye Bolaji's literary work are: Omoseye Bolaji:His writings/his role as a catalyst for FS Writing. By Pule Lebuso (2001); Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work. By Flaxman Qoopane (2003); Omoseye Bolaji: Channelling one's thoughts onto paper. By Charmaine Kolwane (2005); Tebogo on the prowl: a study of Omoseye Bolaji's series of books based on private sleuth, Tebogo Mokoena. By Petro Schonfeld (2006). A recent book, The Triumph (2007) ISBN 978 - 0 - 620 - 38207 - 6 written by Urbain Tila, details the events at the gala night where Omoseye Bolaji received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Further reading
• The growth of Free State Black Writing (a collection of essays on Bolaji, Qoopane, Lebuso, and Thaisi). 2002. By Bareng Mogorosi. Published by Bareng Book Enterprises. Mangaung.
• Free State Writers Talking. (2002). Edited by Molebogeng A Mokhuoa. Published by Qoopane Literary Services. Bloemfontein.
• Four Free State Authors. (2005) By Pule Lechesa. Eclectic Writers Club. Bloemfontein.
• Omoseye Bolaji...on awards, authors, literature. (2007). Edited by Pule Lechesa. Phoenix Press. Ladybrand
• EMINENT journal (West Africa). August 2008 edition. "Profile of Omoseye Bolaji, the new Ibadan Chief". Page 18.
• THE CREST (Omoseye Bolaji honoured in Nigeria). (2008). By Flaxman Qoopane. Qoopane Literary Services. Bloemfontein.

References
1. Omoseye Bolaji receives Lifetime Achievement Award (South African Small Publishers' Blog, retrieved on Jan 9, 2008)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omoseye_Bolaji"

Bolaji and his works
By Kgang Abel Motheane
* Published in MAFUBE NEWS, Feb 2005 edition

This piece is intended as a sort of introduction to Omoseye Bolaji’s ever increasing literary output. Many people can not reconcile his prodigious contributions to journalism - e.g. the fact that Bolaji has written for so many major South African publications including Drum; or recently his hundreds of articles for Daily Sun - but in this article we are focusing on most of his books.

Impossible Love (2000) is Bolaji’s most famous novel, a hit with readers, male and female, and a popular read at libraries across the country. The stunning story of a gentleman who somehow found himself later falling in love with his own daughter (!) is one that will always fascinate.

After the publication of The Ghostly Adversary (2001) Bolaji’s reputation as a skilled, fascinating African novelist was assured, whether he published other works or not. In this highly readable book that "no true reader would be able to put down" we are cleverly guided through a series of well planned, sustained violence and mystery with the pivotal "Mr Tortoise’ an enigmatic person” till the end of the book.

The "Tebogo mystery" series of books was born in 2000 when Bolaji published Tebogo Investigates in which he introduces the "detective" Tebogo Mokoena. The first book, now in retrospect, does not look as impressive as it once was, but the initial party scene in that first adventure is still etched in the mind.

Tebogo’s spot of bother (2001), the second of the series, was a real triumph with a double or triple gripping twist at the end of the book that would bring any reader of the book out in sweat. It was also when Bolaji began to write the detective series in the first person, bringing Tebogo closer to our hearts

Tebogo Fails (2003) maintained the puzzling nature of the Tebogo novelettes. In this story set in Botshabelo, the thing that strikes one most is that Tebogo goes on to fall in love! "the type of romantic love in Impossible love on a minuscule scale " as Flaxman Qoopane commented. Yet he still solves the baffling mystery in the end.

The previous "Tebogo" work, Ask Tebogo (2004) is the longest, and reveals what seems like Bolaji’s current pessimistic approach to most of his writings (a follow up to People of the Townships). He introduces essays into the story,(mystery) in the latest of the Tebogo series.

In his latest “Tebogo” work Tebogo and the Epithalamion (2009), a charming young woman mysteriously disappears at an absorbing ceremony that forms the prelude to her wedding, and sleuth Tebogo Mokoena is inadvertently sucked into another baffling investigation. He has to meticulously scrape through the veneer of outward appearances and adopt unconventional methods to prevent a torrid tragedy.

By the time Bolaji published People of The Townships (2003) the reading public had come to expect the invariable startling conclusion to his books, and he did not disappoint. People of the Townships attracted the Community Publishing Project grant from Cape Town. The book and its denouement remind one in particular of the skill employed in Agatha Christie’s mystery books. But we must also note the social commentary, "moral" exhortations, in the work.

As for Bolaji’s short stories, You never know with women (2002) and The Quack of Qwaqwa (2003) are too slim for any analysis in an article of this nature. In his book, The Guillotine (10 short stories by Bolaji) most of the stories grip us; none more so than The narrow escape.

But Bolaji has not written and published fiction only. In Fillets of Plaice (1999) Bolaji gives us glimpses into the world of journalism essentially. In Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002) - his own contribution to literary essays - we see how well-read Bolaji himself is, with a somewhat comprehensive taste. The Story of Collins Mokhoto (2000) is biographical.

Snippets (1998, 2002, 2004 editions) contains Bolaji’s poems, and if they are not as simple as we would want them to be, perhaps it is no surprise that he is hardly regarded as a popular poet. 2005 has opened with Bolaji publishing My Opinion, a collection of some of Bolaji’s popular columns in the Free State News - "Opinion"
Of course with such a prolific author like Bolaji, one can only but touch the surface of the man’s writings, as I have tried to do here...

Bolaji’s Books
• They Never Say When. 1994
• The Golden Pen of Eselby.(Ed) 1994
• Snippets. 1998
• Fillets of Plaice. 2000
• Impossible Love. 2000
• Tebogo Investigates. 2000
• The Story of Collins Mokhotho. 2000
• The Ghostly Adversary. 2001
• The Guillotine. 2001
• Gilbert Modise: the man and the myth (with F Qqoopane). 2001
• Tebogo’s spot of bother. 2001
• Thoughts on Free state Writing. 2002
• You Never know with women. 2002
• Tebogo Fails. 2003
• The Quack of Qwaqwa (Ed). 2003
• People of the Townships. 2003
• Molebogeng Alitta Mokhuoa. 2004
• My Opinion. 2005
• Tebogo and the Epithalamion 2009

Books on Bolaji’s Works
• Omoseye Bolaji: His writings/his role as a catalyst for FS Writing. By Pule Lebuso. Published by Image Promotions. 2001
• Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work. By Flaxman Qoopane. Qoopane Literary Services. 2003

Supplementary
• Free State Writers Talking (2002, 2004)Ed M.A Mokhuoa
• FOUR FREE STATE AUTHORS (2005). By Pule Lechesa
• The growth of Free State Black Writing (2005). Ed Peter Moroe

When it comes to fiction (written in English) OMOSEYE BOLAJI is in a class of his own. His novel Impossible love continues to stun those who read it, and can be described as "a love story with quite a twist in the tail". Bolaji's novella, Tebogo investigates has also been hailed as a superb mystery/detective story of local colour.

Recently, his latest novel, The Ghostly adversary was published, and it manages to be even more exciting and suspenseful than his earlier works. Another thing worthy of praise is Bolaji’s versatility. He wrote the biographical book, The story of Collins Mokhotho (a Free State traditional dancer) and a book on journalism, Fillets of Plaice.

The Subtle Transgressor, a superb play based on the Mangaung townships had its premiere at Uitenhage in Port Elizabeth in late March (2006). The play, written by novelist, poet and essayist Omoseye Bolaji drew many audiences from the townships as it was brought to life courtesy of the Gladman Theatre. The youthful cast did themselves proud.

A didactic, yet gripping play, The subtle transgressor focuses on the abuse of youngsters, especially girls. It brings together the complicated relationships between the father, Job, the daughter Kate and peer pressure in general. Kate’s friends, Maria and Violet also loom rather large in the drama.

Questions that arise from the play include: what type of pressures do young women face nowadays; what makes them tick? How do they relate to their parents; how does their background fashion, and later reflect on what happens to them in future? How far can a parent go in trying to “discipline” their children?

Meanwhile in Mangaung (Free State) itself, some writers and artist expressed disappointment that the play was first put on stage away in Port Elizabeth. Pule Lechesa, the well known author said: “Bolaji wrote the play based on Mangaung here, and in the text we have references to areas in the Bloemfontein townships. Why could it not have been premiered in the Mangaung townships? Maybe the lesson is that we should get our arts and theatre here in order.”

Bolaji's main weakness is a lack of motivation and encouragement that could make him into a real "great" in writing fiction, despite his achievements so far. It is common knowledge in Mangaung townships that Bolaji announced a "complete retirement from writing in 2001". This announcement, it is gathered, was caused by an extraordinary run of bad luck in getting remuneration for his work, and alleged betrayal by close aides who profited from his writing talents.

Chief Omoseye Bolaji, the Onigegewura of Ibadanland is a true Champion for Nigeria, and should be better recognised in his own country.

Akintokunbo A Adejumo is the Codewit Global Network Favourite Author of March 2009

Akintokunbo Adejumo is the Global Coordinator of CHAMPIONS FOR NIGERIA, (www.championsfornigeria.org ) an organisation devoted to tackling corruption, promoting good governance and celebrating genuine progress, excellence, commitment, selfless and unalloyed service to Nigeria and the people of Nigeria. He is also the Chief Writer and Consultant for African Entrepreneur LLC, a US-based, Nigerian-owned media and marketing firm