Did you ever feel that your time was wasted by unnecessary and inefficient bureaucracy? If you have than this post will interest you...
Today I went to renew my passport at the Nigeria Consulate in New York. Normally, the visa department was situated before on the 8Th floor. They have moved it and put it in where used to be Nigeria Airways. You might ask what is wrong with that? Nothing except that they have refused to update the room. Broken furniture is scattered at the entrance of the room and old posters. The central air conditioner is obviously not functioning, instead they have this portable device that you would find in the banks in Nigeria .... it generates more noise than cold air.
We are greeted by an incompetent clerk who obviously wants to prove that he has more power than he actually has. What is my reason for this insult?Application forms are distributed there or you can print it out from the website and bring it with you with the appropriate fees a simple process you might say- Hell no!! Everything is a big song and dance. There is a ticket holder there but it is located in an inconspicuous area that hardly anyone notices. I notice it however because I know how they operate there. But I feel sorry for the people who have just collected a ticket from the guard area and think that is all they need. The clerk does not inform anyone just starts calling numbers amid a lot of confusion.
I feel as if I am in Nigeria already...
He collects the passport renewal form and tells me to come back tomorrow. Do you think I have off tomorrow to come back up to Manhattan pay $25.00 for garaged parking for 1 hour just to pick up a passport? Are you kidding me? It is not like they need a passport photo or anything just a stamp that renews by ten years with a written signature. Such a nonsensical process...
I just had to vent. I have less than a week to go and my nerves are completely frayed. I am filled with a lot of emotions, ranging from excitement to depression. I never feel as if I am prepared enough for what Nigeria has to offer. I am not looking forward to the long queues for fuel, the constant begging from people I don't even know. I am a generous person and not at all a tight fist. But there is no boundaries ever in Nigeria. Everything goes... it is definitely a free for all. Unless you are somebody in Nigeria you are left stranded.
Now I spend most of my times catching up on my workload, packing and repacking.... and just biding my time. I missed all of you guys through my blog absence. I will probably write more frequently in Nigeria than I do now. I will also post a lot of interesting pictures for all of you guys who cannot be there with me.
Now time to go do my blog rounds.....
Simply Gorgeous
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47 comments:
Eiya, sorry, I feel you on the pressure dealing with fellow Naijas.
You are not alone... read Toksie's if it might help. http://toksie.blogspot.com/2007/06/under-normal-circumstances.html
I mean, it isn't the same scene, but you can identify
And that lack of information happens too often here; they make one look stupid and when u bother to ask, it looks like you just made them spill their meal over themselves. Service in Naija is usually this way.
You'd probably not have to bother about queuing for fuel when you et back...
RYC: And how do u mean I be "loco"? Did u mean "kolo"? Hahahahaha, don't tell me u haven't had some soliloquy yourself! :) Have a good day and don't let no one mess with your gorgeous mood
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!! Hope you have a blast!
I can feel your pain and hurt. it's now so clear that Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad are only there ceremonially. They've always be known to exhibit the most nonchalant attitude you can think of in this world!
It's very ridiculous to say the least. Don't worry, you're gon be enjoyinh naija soon with all the suya and local dishes...Kai, am drooling :)
PS: who's buffday is it, urs? don't seem to understand fineboy's line!
@Yosh, bighead loco and kolo is the same thing. Loco in spanish means crazy....funny isn't it?
@Mr. Fineboy- Thank you babe....
@Ugo-I really can't eait to eat suya... I am dreaming of it- I kid you not. Yes, it was my birthday....
Woman wen is ur birthday? Passport renewal in Nigerian embassy nobi joke,lol!luckily did mine at home!
Happy birthday SG, please send me your email so I can respond with my Nigerian number. Hopefully all the stress u got at the embassy is worth it. :)
I had an experience worse than yours at the nigerian consulate...just to get a new passport they thought they were gods and all ....
Before i went to Nigeria house,i had heard peoples' tales but funny enough my experience was not that bad.There was no standard procedure,they just did as they pleased but i was glad to be out of there in 2hours
@Cheetarah- You are so lucky. But I thought the nigerian experience would be worse.
@anon- They need to do something serious. It is giving their citizens a bad experience, much as less a foreigner coming into Nigeria for the first time for a visa.
@T- minx. I will get my e-mail to you. I am on my way over by you right now.Thank you for sympathizing with me-I am supposed to return tomorrow, God knows how long that will take.
@Classybabe- Normally I do not spend anytime at all. But because they changed around the whole layout the security no longer will allow me to see the "chief" of visa/passport dept. Usually he will get it through to me with no issue the same day but this experience is ridiculous...
kin manta ah nigeria zaki aike wani, u dont have to go urself ai, minwhile na dawoe briefly. Im lovin that im blogging in vernacular,lol!U didnt ans my question o?
..heard about that place in newyork..so i did my passport renewal the naija way..wink! wink!
anyway am so envious of you right now, goin to naija, am sure you cant wait!
interesting, din't know that! Now I have one more weapon in my arsenal! :D
Happy birthday o! BRING MY CAKE!!! Din't even know how some ppl knew...:-/
Happy birthday sweets!!! you didnt tell anyone..DHL my cake.
kpele about ur experience at the Nigeria house...but expect more of that when u come to naija oh!..lol...
happy birthday dearie.. !!
simply my dear, i think its worse in england.. cant stand those peeps! so rude1!!
cant wait to see ur naija pics.. miss uuuuuu!! and my daughter in law.. lol
hey pple,blogville idol is finally coming to an end...we have two contestants left and they have sung their songs,pls go to out page and listen to them via our voice player and vote for them on d vote poll..pls leave us a comment too...tank u for ur support thru out the contest
Eyaaaa! Wait o..Are you moving forever?
Naija house is the wrongest place to go ever!!! The chaos,lack of organisation...they ran out of application forms and told peeps to go print some at nearby cybercafes...I took a novel along me with me and finished it there!!! Sorry oh!
pele lurvie!
eyaaaaaaaaaa. pele. the nigeria house in england is much better. the high commissioner has revamped the place and customer service is enhanced.nice blog
BLOGVILLE IDOL HAS A WINNER GO TO OUR PAGE AND SEE WHO IT IS...PLS DROP US A COMMENT TANX!TANX FOR UR SUPPORt THRU OUT THE SHOW......BLOGVILLE IDOL IS OFFICIALLY OVER
I always thought that people who went to Nigerian embassies went there with an attitude or preconceived opinion about the place, and that their dealings with the staff there were always directed by this notion. Nigerians I always felt never behaved themselves when they got there. But that was until I paid a visit to one of these building.
LOL...Well i promise you will have fun in Nigeria
Aaargh, how and where are you nah? :(
eya...does it mean u gave up??or u going back to nija nd get it renewed?well...to be honest i dnt knw wht process to go through coz i get it done for me in time...nd hope i cld help u,u seem to have mad eup ur mind anyways...so go luck ;)
Nigeria embassy in da U.S. and their services?! (*hiss*)
Nigerian embassies everywhere men. Even to renew passport sef na wahala.
niaja civil servants are the same world wide. sorry for the stress
Madam...update small now...just small!!!
Well, i just dropped by to let you know of a competition that is running at the africanloft.
www.africanloft.com
Pls, participate.
Ps: 600 words is just a page..
Wetin dey na? Abi u and mr. still dey do your honeymoon?
Update o!!!
Hawwww. i guess u were so irritated. i heard its better to get a passport renewal at Atlanta, Georgia. enjoy your naija trip.takia
where r u sweets...miss u loads
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Ina kike? Lafiya kwa? Kwana biu ko kin iso naija ney? Holla o!
Hello girl, wassup, guess your in Naija now.
Sorry about your stress while renewing your passport....When i wanted to have mine renewed, i just mailed it to them in ATL.
And did they really renew by 10 years??? mine was by 5.
Ciao
Where are you love?
Update!
I hope you are good.
Miss SG..how are you doing? Take a breather and come back to us enh?
Our own pple can drive u crazy if care is not taken.
Simply gorgeous simly gorgeous where forth art thou?
u are missed.hope u r okay..hows s.a sexy n lil gorgeous..takare love!
9jer will ever represent!
You can never be disappointed with what to expect when it comes to customer service & 9jer. Unfortunately, it is the same situation over here in the UK.
I bow....9jer!
UPDATE THIS BLOG, OR NIGERIA HOUSE WILL SEEM LIKE A SWEET, SWEET DREAM BY THE TIME I'M FINISHED WITH YOU!!!
You know, I think I've been quiet for long enough. It isn't like I haven't missed you o, but I'm trying to manage it.
Hope you are having fun wherever you are and DO come back as soon as you can.
update.
e don do now
cant believe this! so they r the same everywhr?? i went to the nigeria house in london recently too and i had to post about it!! amazing! nigeria we hail thee...
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