The Nigerian Ambassador/Permanent Representative in Austria, Ms Maria Oyeyinka Laose has called on Nigerians in Austria, to safeguard the moral values of Nigeria, and to be good ambassadors of the country.

Ambassador Laose made the call while addressing Nigerians who turned up in large number on 22nd April, 2012 to welcome her to a meeting at the Council Hall at number 6 Friedhofstrasse Linz, during her official visit to the province of Upper Austria.

Thanking them for the warm reception accorded her and her team, Ambassador Laose advised Nigerians to be good citizens and refrain from behaviours that could cast shadows on the countrys image.
She urged them to learn the language of the country in which they reside in order to understand what is going on around them, adding that only by so doing can they integrate fully into the Austrian society, understand and properly interact with their Austrian hosts. Talking about integration, the Ambassador drew the attention of Nigerians to Austrias criteria based immigration scheme, calling on them to take full advantage of the scheme. She advised Nigerians in Linz to unite on the platform of a national association in other to work with other bodies within the immigrant community to coordinate and learn from them, especially when it comes to deriving ultimate advantage from the integration programmes that abound in Austria.

Ambassador Laose also assured them that the Embassy would not abdicate its responsibility to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians but she warned that Nigerians had to put their house in order, and that the Nigerian Government was not opposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer had the rights to remain in the countries from where they are being deported, especially after they might have exhausted all local remedies remain there. In that connection she urged Nigerians in Austria to be law abiding and not to abuse the hospitality of their hosts as the Embassy would not tolerate acts that tarnish the image of the country and therefore would not hesitate in facilitating the deportation of Nigerians who got involved in nefarious activities if requested by the host country. The Ambassador also drew the attention of Nigerians in Linz to the option of the Voluntary Assistance Return Programme for Immigrants through the IOM, and advised those Nigerians who were having difficulties in integrating into the Austrian society to take advantage of the programme rather than wait to be forcibly deported. By so doing, she informed that they would be able to enjoy the counsel and cooperation of of IOM partners in Nigeria toward their re-settlement and rehabilitation into their home society.

The Ambassador further informed that on its own side, the Embassy was doing its best to assist them in regularising their stay through enhanced service delivery at the Missions consular section. She referred to the success recorded during March 2012 E-Passport Intervention Exercise, carried out by the Embassy in conjunction with officials of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Abuja to issue over 500 Nigerians with the new biometric passport. She informed that NIS had concluded arrangement to provide Austria with an e-passport production unit, in order to swiftly attend to the passport requests of Nigerians in Austria, Slovakia and other surrounding countries. She therefore advised against seeking proxy documents which could not be reasonably authenticated. For those Nigerians that have already obtained Austrian citizenship, Ambassador Laose informed them that the administrative fee of 100 euro charged by the Embassy for Visa processing had been reduced to 50 euro. 

Based on the meetings with Nigerians, Ambassador Laose, during her courtesy call on the Mayor of the City of Linz, Mr. Franz Dobucsh, sought for more assistance for Nigerians, while at the same time thanking him for the opportunity for Nigerians to peacefully co-exist with the people of Upper Austria. The Ambassador was also informed by the Police Director of Upper Austria, Dr Walter Wodholm that Nigerians were ?law abiding. She was encouraged to seize the opportunity of this good report to call for more necessary assistance, particularly in the areas of job provision and integration. 

Before departing the province, the Nigerian community through their representative Mr Ernest ONUIGBO, conveyed the communitys delight for the visit and wished the Ambassador and her team a successful journey back to Vienna.