The news that the United States Government has commenced the construction of a new Consulate office in Lagos, which would be the largest globally, has come to Nigerians as surprising as it is ground-breaking.
The project, which is sited at the iconic Eko Atlantic City, was kicked off on Thursday in a huge ceremony that was graced by Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, US Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard and US Consul General, Claire Pierangelo.
Estimated at $537 million, the new consular office will occupy a 12.2-acre space in the rapidly developing Eko Atlantic City. It would provide a modern space for the largest consular operation in Africa, including improved public-facing interview and waiting areas.
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Further details reveal that the construction project targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification ––a globally recognized designation for achievement in high performance, best-in-class, green buildings –– and incorporates many features designed to make the building more sustainable.
Ennead Architects LLP of New York is the design architect, Pernix Federal, LLC of Lombard, Illinois, is the design/build contractor, and EYP, Inc. of Albany, New York, is the architect of record. The construction project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Given the size and weight of the project, Nigerians are curious as to why the US government would want its biggest consular office in Nigeria.
Statement issued after the ceremony by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General, Victoria Island, Lagos, said the size of the project demonstrates “the importance of the relationship between the United States and Nigeria,” as it would support diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and Nigeria and provide American and Nigerian Consulate employees with a safe, secure, sustainable, and modern workplace.
In addition, it would directly benefit the Nigerian people, and throughout the project, an estimated $95 million would be invested in the local economy, with the project employing approximately 2,500 Nigerian citizens, including engineers, architects, artisans, construction workers, and administrative staff.
“These workers will have the opportunity to learn new technical skills and safety awareness that will help distinguish them in the local market,” the statement said.
According to the US government, besides fostering the relationship between Nigeria and the US, the camp was conceived to help strengthen democracy in the West African country.
“Our vision for this remarkable Consulate campus is to create a facility that both honours the vibrant relationship between the United States and Nigeria and communicates the spirit of American democracy, transparency and openness,” Leonard said.
However, a large section of Nigerians hold the belief that beyond all these is a push for higher revenue generation. Nigeria appears to be the United States’ largest visa market. A report noted that the US Embassy Nigeria made a whopping N19 billion in 2018, from visa fees. Out of the sum, only 143,783 non-immigrant visas were issued to Nigerian applicants, according to data released by the US Department of State.
Therefore, at the exchange rate of N400 to a dollar, the consulate made nearly N19 billion in 11 months instead of N14.5 billion it would have made at N305.25 to a dollar. The difference of N4.5 billion represents 23 per cent excess gain.
Considering that other visa types such as H, L, O, P, Q, R, K and E attract higher fees, ranging between $190 and $265, the embassy’s gross earnings increased by a significant amount.
For instance, a religious worker travelling to the U.S. had paid N76, 000 for P-type visa instead of N58, 000; the same for athletes, artists and entertainers
Daily, hundreds of Nigerians troop to US embassies in Abuja and Lagos looking for visas, most get denied. The data indicated a 57.47% adjusted refusal rate for the 2018 fiscal year, which was subsequently amplified by former President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration moves which targeted developing countries and had Nigeria banned from US visas in 2020.
The US embassies in Nigeria have also been accused of using parallel market FX rates instead of official rates. Some Nigerians who see the current US visa charges as extortion have opined that the US should imitate Japan, who only charges fees on a visa application only when the visa is approved.
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