US Protests Campbell’s Visa Denial

This Day

20 May 2011

US Protests Campbell’s Visa Denial

By Tokunbo Adedoja

United States has protested the denial of visa to Mr. John Campbell, its former envoy to Nigeria, by the Nigerian embassy in Washing-ton DC.

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Media reports later quoted a foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr. Damian Agwu, that Campbell's application for visa had been denied because he did not meet requirements for visa to Nigeria.

Thurday, a source at the US State Department told THISDAY that since the issue was reported by the media, there had been official communication between the Nigerian Embassy on one hand, and the State Department and the US embassy in Nigeria, on the issue.

The source said the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, William Fitzgerald, had protested the refusal of Nigeria to approve Campbell's visa application, while the US embassy in Abuja had also made similar complaint.

"We are in touch with the Nigerian embassy on the issue and Mr. Fritzgerald, has specifically made our opinion known. Our mission in Abuja is also following it up. We are particularly concerned because he is our former envoy to Nigeria", the source said.