Petition to the Federal Government of Nigeria: Establish Nigerian Consulates in Texas and California

To:
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
The Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

We, the undersigned, respectfully call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a Nigerian Consulate in Texas, and a Nigerian Consulate in California.

Nigeria has one of the largest and most vibrant diaspora communities in the United States. Thousands of Nigerians and Nigerian-Americans live, work, study, invest, and raise families across Texas and California. Yet many must travel long distances, spend significant money, and endure major inconvenience to obtain basic consular services such as passport renewal, visa processing, document authentication, power of attorney, emergency travel certificates, birth registration, and other official services.

This situation places an unnecessary burden on law-abiding citizens and residents who deserve timely and accessible government support.

Why this matters:

1. Texas and California have large Nigerian populations.
Both states are home to thriving Nigerian communities, major business centers, universities, and international airports. These communities contribute significantly to the economies of both the United States and Nigeria.

2. Access to consular services should not require extreme travel.
Many Nigerians in the southern and western United States must travel across states, miss work, pay for flights and hotels, and face long wait times simply to complete routine consular tasks.

3. Faster services would benefit families, students, professionals, and businesses.
A consulate in Houston or Dallas would better serve Nigerians in Texas and neighboring states. A consulate in Los Angeles or San Francisco would better serve Nigerians in California and the broader western United States.

4. Stronger consular presence strengthens Nigeria’s global image.
Expanding Nigeria’s diplomatic and consular reach would demonstrate commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad and deepen cultural, educational, and economic ties.

5. Nigerians abroad deserve dignity and responsiveness.
Our diaspora sends remittances, invests in communities, supports relatives, and promotes Nigeria’s interests globally. They should have access to efficient, modern, and geographically accessible consular services.

We therefore urge the Nigerian government to:

Establish a Nigerian Consulate in Texas
Establish a Nigerian Consulate in California
Allocate the necessary staffing, funding, and infrastructure to ensure these offices operate efficiently.
Engage Nigerian community organizations in both states during the planning process.
This is not only a matter of convenience. It is a matter of fairness, service, national pride, and respect for Nigerians in the diaspora.

We call on all Nigerians, Nigerian-Americans, friends of Nigeria, community leaders, students, professionals, faith leaders, and business owners to sign this petition and support improved access to Nigerian consular services in the United States.

Support Nigerians in the diaspora. Sign and share this petition to call on the Nigerian government to open consulates in Houston and Los Angeles.

Sign this petition today and help bring Nigerian consular services closer to the people who need them.