Why Nigerian Passport Holders Face Discrimination Abroad – VON DG

The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Ndace, has lamented the unfair treatment faced by Nigerian passport holders abroad and called for a shift in narrative to improve the country’s global image.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Mr Peter Odey, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State in Calabar on Thursday, Ndace urged Nigerians to be proactive and unapologetic in presenting a more balanced view of the nation.

“When you travel out with the Nigerian passport, you are treated with disdain, unbefitting of your status,” Ndace stated, noting that such treatment is often rooted in the negative stories circulated about Nigeria.

He said that while the country may have its challenges, the negative portrayal of the nation is often exaggerated and one-sided.

“Our country is not all about negative news, we have great things happening here too, we should all join hands to tell the positives that we are known for.

“We may not be perfect, but we are not what is being portrayed, we must be unapologetic in telling Nigeria’s story confidently,” Ndace stated.

The VON DG urged Nigerians to partner with the organization to counter the prevalent negative narratives, especially in the era of social media distortions and misinformation.

According to Ndace, VON is a platform for reshaping Nigeria’s image, adding that the organisation is well-equipped to tell Nigeria’s story, and indeed Africa’s story, more accurately than any other outlet.

The VON boss also offered the agency’s platform to the Cross River State government for publicizing its developmental programmes.

In response, Deputy Governor Odey praised Ndace’s professionalism and pledged to collaborate with VON in publicizing the state’s activities, particularly in promoting Cross River as a premier tourist destination in Nigeria.