The Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa, Canada has dismissed a video clip circulating on social media that is giving a wrong impression about what Nigerians are going through to get a passport.
Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Adeyinka Olatokunbo Asekun said the video from 2013 and does not reflect the true picture at the Commission.
In statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission said, “The attention of the High Commission has been drawn to a video clip making rounds on social media, giving a wrong impression that Nigerians go through a difficult and harrowing experience when they come to obtain passports and other consular-related services at the Nigeria High Commission,Ottawa.”
“The High Commission hereby wishes to state unequivocally that the mentioned video clip purportedly shot by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in 2013 does not, in any way, reflect the current reality of the very positive experiences Nigerians have whenever they visit our office for passports and other consular-related matters.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our website: www.nigeriahcottawa.com provides passport applicants with useful information on our operations and various services.
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“In addition, with the passport processing structure presently in place at the High Commission, Nigerians with complete documentation are able to obtain their passports within a few hours on the same day of their visits to our office.”
“Member of the public are, therefore enjoined to disregard the visor clip in it entirely, as High Commission remains committed to sustaining and improving on its effective service delivery to Nigerians and all, it is, no doubt, the handiwork of mischief makers, who may even be envious of the commission landmark achievements made so far with regard to issuance of passports and consular services to Nigerians in Canada.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
