Bolanle Olukanni, daughter of former Nigerian Ambassador to Australia, Ayoola Olukanni, has voiced her concerns over the devaluation of the Nigerian passport.
Her parents were recently denied Schengen visas by the Austrian embassy, despite her father's extensive diplomatic background.
Ambassador Olukanni, who served as the Nigerian Commissioner to Australia from 2011 to 2015, had previously lived in Austria for three years.
His daughter commented on X, disgusted, "I just want you people to know that the Nigeria passport has really been bastardised."
The TV host and documentary filmmaker lamented that her father's 30 years of service to the country as a foreign service officer were disregarded.
"Are you aware of the lack of tact, decency, and disrespect for a nation you must have in order to refuse a former foreign service officer a visa?" she asked, raising concerns about the consulate's lack of manners and decency.
Olukanni added, "They think he wants to go to Japan," expressing her dissatisfaction with the consulate's supposition that her father wanted to remain in Austria. I am really offended. Lord.
The devaluation of the Nigerian passport has been a growing concern, with African nationals spending millions on visa application fees, only to face high rejection rates.
In 2023, African nationals received 704,000 negative responses for their visa requests, resulting in €56.3 million in fees.
The EU's decision to raise visa fees for adults from €80 to €90 starting next week will only exacerbate the situation. African and Asian countries bear 90 percent of all expenses, with rejection rates being especially high for these nations.
The devaluation of the Nigerian passport has far-reaching implications, not only for individuals like Ambassador Olukanni but also for the country as a whole.
It is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by African nations in navigating the global landscape and the need for greater diplomatic efforts to address these issues.
