Monthly Archives: September 2020

Seattle is the largest city in America’s Pacific Northwest region and located in the state of Washington.  The Seattle metropolitan area has a population of 4 million and is the fifteenth-largest metropolis in the United States.  Known as the “Emerald City”, Seattle is situated in a magnificent natural environment, surrounded by evergreen forests, mountains, and water.  Having no shortage of scenic views, outdoor activities, cultural events, trendy restaurants and coffee shops, it is no surprise that Seattle is a popular tourist destination with over 40 million visitors coming to the city each year.  The Seattle metropolitan area includes the cities of Tacoma, Bellevue, Kent, Everett, Renton, Kirkland, and Redmond.  Although there are over 350,000 Nigerian immigrants living in the United States, only about 1,500 live in the Seattle area.

The city of Dallas and the surrounding metropolitan area is the most populous metropolis in the southern United States and fourth-most populous in the country.  The Dallas metropolitan area—known as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, or DFW by local residents—has a population of 7.6 million people and includes the cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Irving, Garland, Frisco, Mesquite, Denton, Grand Prairie, and McKinney.  The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, located in North Texas, is one of the fastest growing regions in the country thanks to its low cost of living, low taxes, abundance of resources, and ease of doing business.  The African immigrant community in Dallas is diverse and its population is spread throughout the city.  There are likely at least 15,000 Nigerian immigrants living in Dallas and the North Texas region.

Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania and is one of the oldest cities in the United States.  Founded in 1682 by Englishman William Penn, a social reformer and champion of liberty, he named the city Philadelphia using the Greek term meaning “brotherly love”.  Philadelphia has the nickname “City of Brotherly Love” and is nowadays more casually known by locals and non-locals alike as “Philly”.  The Philadelphia metropolitan area has over 6 million people (America’s eighth-largest metropolis) and includes cities and towns in the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, in addition to Pennsylvania.  Philadelphia has a Nigerian population of at least 5,000 and there are many more African immigrants from other West African countries living in the city.  Americans preparing for a trip to Nigerian can check out the “Little Africa” neighborhood in Philadelphia for a sampling of the continent’s cuisine.

Detroit is the second-largest city in the Midwest (after Chicago) and is better known by its nickname “Motor City”, or “Motown”, because of its prominence as the global center of the automotive industry.  Although the city has certainly had its share of ups and downs, Detroit remains an important and influential American city.  The Detroit metropolitan area, known as Metro Detroit, has a population of 4.3 million and is the fourteenth-largest metropolis in the United States.  Metro Detroit includes the towns of Dearborn, Royal Oak, Auburn Hills, Troy, Livonia, Southfield, Rochester Hills, Warren, Pontiac, Sterling Heights, and other municipalities.  While the population of Nigerians in Detroit is relatively small compared to other American cities, there are Nigerian immigrants here along with Nigerian students attending college throughout the state of Michigan, acquiring knowledge they will bring back to their homeland.   

Nigeria is a West African country located on the Gulf of Guinea that is almost four times the size of Michigan. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and seventh most-populous in the world.  Known as the “Giant of Africa”, Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and is well known for its huge oil and gas sector, but less well known is its growing manufacturing sector that is exporting products across the continent.  For example, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, located in Nnewi, is the first indigenous automobile plant in the country.  English is the official language of the country, but Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa are some of its most widely spoken native languages.  While Abuja is the political capital of Nigeria and one of the fastest growing cities in the world, Lagos is the economic and cultural capital of the country, if not the cultural capital of Africa.  

Obtaining a Nigerian Visa from Detroit

Nigerian visas are issued by the Nigerian government in the United States.  The Nigerian government is represented by two consulates (there is one located in Atlanta and the other is in New York City) and one embassy, located in Washington, D.C.  To apply for a Nigerian visa in Detroit, you must contact OIS Services (the contractor for the Nigerian government) and appear in person at one of their offices.  OIS has offices in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.  Please check the website of OIS for more details about the location of their offices and contact information:  https://oisservices.com/

It is a good idea to review the requirements for the visa on the Nigerian consulate website.  Here is the link to the consulate website in

Chicago is America’s third-most-populous city and its metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland, has a population approaching 10 million people.  Chicago is a vibrant international city with a robust economy that is the corporate headquarters for 57 Fortune 1000 companies  While manufacturing and food processing provide a strong foundation for its economy, the city is also an important financial center and is home to the Chicago Stock Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  From its food to its music, Chicago is a very American city—an American city that continues to evolve and grow thanks to the contributions of immigrants.  Chicago has a large African population of around 50,000, of which over half are Nigerians.

Unacceptable passport photos are the most common reason the Canadian government rejects passport applications and renewals submitted from its citizens living abroad.

Canada has detailed requirements for obtaining a new passport or renewing an existing one which include strict passport photographs guidelines. More than 60 percent of Canadians have a passport, and the government issues more than five million each year. While those living in Canada can visit a government passport office or a government-run Service Canada Centre, applications can be more difficult for those living in other countries. 

The city of Orlando, located in the Central Florida region of the United States and known as “the City Beautiful”, is ranked as America’s 23rd most-populous city.  The Orlando metropolitan area has a population of 2.6 million people and is home to several theme parks including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios.  Orlando’s theme parks, natural attractions, and year-round warm weather make it one of the most-visited cities in the world.  The Orlando metropolitan area includes various cities and towns such as Kissimmee, Sanford, St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, and other municipalities.  While the population of Nigerians living in Orlando is not huge, there are restaurants in the area where Americans can prepare for their trip by trying out the country’s national dish, jollof rice and moin-moin.

Charlotte is the most populous city in the state of North Carolina and America’s 23rd most-populous city.  Known as the Queen City, this metropolis of 2.6 million people has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. the past two decades.  Charlotte’s youthful population, low cost of living, and geographical location in the Sun Belt, have made it an attractive destination for business investment.  Charlotte is the third largest baking center in the U.S. and has a growing financial technology sector, potentially making it an important city to team up with Nigeria’s growing fintech sector.   The Charlotte metropolitan area stretches into South Carolina and includes the towns of Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Mooresville, Monroe, Salisbury, Matthews, Cornelius, Statesville, Shelby, Rock Hill (SC), and Fort Mill (SC).

The city of Tampa is one of the three principal cities (the other two being St. Petersburg and Clearwater) that make up the Tampa Bay Area.  The Tampa Bay Area is the 18th-largest metropolis in the United States and has a population of over 3.1 million people.  The metro area includes the counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Citrus, and Manatee, along with the towns of Brandon, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Largo, Tarpon Springs, and Bradenton. The Tampa Bay Area is home to several Fortune 500 companies and has a strong foundation of financial services and information technology firms.  While the Nigerian diaspora community in Tampa is not huge, the area still has Nigerian restaurants, markets, churches, community, and business organizations that American people can visit to further network and learn more about the country before their trip.

Miami is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the United States and has a population of 6.2 million people.  The metropolitan region—officially known as the Greater Miami Area—is composed of Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.  Its main cities include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Miami Gardens, Davie, West Palm Beach, Hialeah, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Homestead, and Boca Raton.  This is a diverse community where 40% of the population was born in another country.  There are an estimated 5,000 Nigerians living in the Greater Miami Area.  Centered around Miami Gardens, the community includes Nigerian (and other West African) restaurants, markets, and churches.