A public policy advocate, Rotimi Victor Rhodes-Vivour, has called for sweeping reforms across Nigerian foreign missions, citing persistent complaints of delays, weak communication and poor treatment of citizens seeking consular services abroad.
Rhodes-Vivour said embassies and consulates operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have failed to consistently meet public expectations in delivering essential services such as passport renewals, visa processing, birth and marriage registration, and emergency assistance.
While acknowledging that some Nigerians have reported positive experiences particularly in urgent situations — he noted that complaints about long waiting times, slow documentation processes and lack of transparency remain widespread.
According to him, delays in passport issuance have become a major pain point for Nigerians in the diaspora, often forcing applicants to make repeated visits to embassies and disrupting travel and employment plans.
Rhodes-Vivour, a candidate of the Public Leadership Credential at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, warned that continued inefficiencies could erode public trust and damage Nigeria’s global standing.
“Nigerian foreign missions are meant to protect citizens abroad and promote Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic interests. When service delivery is poor, it weakens public confidence and makes Nigerians feel abandoned,” he said.
To address the challenges, Rhodes-Vivour proposed a behavioural reform model known as a “nudge” a strategy designed to improve efficiency without imposing stricter enforcement rules.
Under the proposal, embassies would publicly display clear service timelines for passport renewals and document verification on notice boards, official websites and appointment confirmation emails. Staff members would also operate with daily performance dashboards outlining the number of applications to be processed within specific deadlines.
“When service timelines are clearly stated and monitored, officials are more likely to organise their work efficiently, while users will have clear expectations,” he explained.
He argued that greater transparency and accountability would reduce processing delays, enhance responsiveness and limit the need for repeated embassy visits.
Rhodes-Vivour maintained that fast and efficient consular service a core mandate of foreign missions has yet to be fully realised, given recurring diaspora complaints.
Beyond improving user experience, he said reforms would help restore confidence among Nigerians abroad and strengthen the country’s reputation with host nations and international partners.
A legal practitioner and Principal Partner at Akande, Rhodes & Vivour, Rhodes-Vivour is also President of The 616 Group and leads the Rotimi Victor Rhodes-Vivour Youth Empowerment Foundation.
He stressed that reforming Nigeria’s foreign missions is critical to protecting citizens overseas and projecting a more credible national image on the global stage.
