By Thompson ABISOLA
Activities picked up on Friday at the U.S. Embassy Abuja as it resumed consular activities.
The embassy in its twitter handle @USEmbassyAbuja on Friday morning announced resumption of full consular services at the embassy in Abuja.
“Full consular visa and American Citizen Services (ACS) resume in Abuja today. We regret the inconvenience the temporary closure of the Abuja Consular office caused. Good to be back,” the embassy said.
It would be recalled that the embassy had on Aug. 15 temporarily suspended its consular services in Abuja due to reasons it said were beyond its control.
It however stated that consular functions at the U.S. Consulate Lagos were never affected and will continue as usual.
TBI Africa observed that scores of applicants who had their appointments rescheduled for Aug. 24 after the suspension of services defiled the Friday downpour to meet up with their appointments.
Many of them were sighted on a queue at the embassy waiting to be attended to by consular officials.
Few of them said they initially had appointments between Aug. 15 and Aug. 23 but were informed that their appointments had been rescheduled to Aug 24
Others also said their appointments were fresh ones.
An applicant, a student who simply identified himself as Jones, said that his appointment was rescheduled from Aug. 15 to Aug. 24.
Another applicant, Miss Busayo Adetipe, said her appointment was a fresh one. “I received a notification for interview from the embassy,” she said.
A source who preferred anonymity said that most of those who came to the embassy on Friday were those who had their appointments rescheduled.
“That is why you see the crowd. Ordinarily, you do not find this many people,” the source said.
It would also be recalled that food vendors resumed operations near the embassy.
Also drinks sellers, airtime top-up, internet services, photographers resumed operations.
Mr Ikechukwu Valentine, a taxi operator said: “activites have picked up. “Honestly, business was dull during the closure of operations at the embassy. But I must say that things are good again. Before they closed operations, I make N7,000 on the average in a day.”
A photographer, Mr Ojo Seun, said before the suspension of consular services, he makes N10, 000 every week.
