No hiking of fees in Australia – Envoy

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Australia, Ambassador Dr Jane Bassey Adams, has said that there is no hiking of administrative fees in Australia.

Adams, in a statement issued in Canberra, Australia, said that the high commission was only looking at current market realities to ensure that the fees were in tandem with the consular services rendered by the high commission.

Adams said in so doing, the high commission will be able to meet the consular needs of Nigerians in the host country accordingly.

The envoy explained that although letters were initially issued to that effect, it was immediately withdrawn for further consultations.

The envoy wondered why the President of Nigerian Scholars in Australia (NISA), an association that had been in close contact with the high commission, did not deem it necessary to clarify the development before rushing to the media.

She urged the public to disregard any counter information regarding administrative fees in Australia, saying that the interest of Nigerians living in Australia is paramount to the high commission.

“We are here to meet the yearnings of our Nigerian nationals in Australia by responding to their consular needs, and this is of utmost importance to us. But in a situation where it became necessary to increase administrative fees to reflect current economic realities in the host country. The High Commission has reversed to status accordingly. At the moment, no administrative fees have been increased,” Adams said.