Below is Lawyer Carol Ajie’s mail to Punch Newspaper:Greetings Sir!
Having just read your report posted below, on one or two Nigerians denied entry into USA, one with a pregnant spouse and the other was travelling for what appears from the description of his itinerary as “site seeing”?. That the SSA would issue a public statement to Nigerians on account of these, deserve an understanding of how Americans and America work!
Mistake number 1, border agencies world over kick against Nigerians and other citizens who travel principally to have their Babies in God’s own country with a view to acquiring citizenship by birth.
Sir make inquiries please sir, truth be told visibly pregnant Mothers are not allowed on board . It is curious how the pregnant spouse of the gentleman in question escaped the search light at check-in counters. Maybe they did but the American immigration officers didn’t, Sir.
2) In the face of sufferings in the land that a Nigerian will hop into a plane to USA for “sight seeing” calls to question. STOP travelling ‘aimlessly’ ALL!. I attend conferences participate in programs in US etc and even obtained a number of law certificates plus LL.M Intl legal studies, in D.C., Americans are great people. At the border post asked “what are you here for ”? Answer reasonably and responsibly and politely and they (the immigration officers) often treat us with respect and dignity. Always keep in mind as stated when your visa is issued, your visa is not a license to untruth and or to travel aimlessly/anyhow.
ABIKE DABIRI EREWA wrote a reckless travel advisory that cost our country some; she is yet to apologize & if she is going to keep propping up stuff to justify it, we should have to see that our good lady remains in the Presidency as SSA ok but another dept.
The Presidency needs SSA on Employment at this time, bearing in mind the exit of the former Minister of State James Ocholi who passed over a year ago and has yet been replaced, please. Even if he gets a replacement from Kogi State, Presidency would still need SSA in that department particularly one from Lagos State.
Thank you!
CN AJIE ESQ.
Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has since replied Carol, referring her to another publication by Punch showing that entry denial/maltreatment of Nigerians at US airports is being investigated.
http://punchng.com/fg-investigates-entry-denial-maltreatment-of-nigerians-at-us-airports/
Sounds personal and opinion ‘gagging’. There’s questionability to differing stand-points but what matters is the fact that more than 3 instances claimed disruptions to their planned trip (visit or return to country of abode) to the USA. It’s not only to Nigerians, but we need to appreciate when our kin feels unnecessarily ‘hard-done-by’. America’s travel ban is global, as it is, and it’s not only cited countries but it affects nationals of America’s allies.