Nigerian Embassy in Sweden Gets First Biometric (Passport) Machine

By Adeola Aderounmu

The Nigerian Embassy in Sweden has commissioned its first biometric machine. The machine will serve Nigerians living in the Nordic countries namely Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark.

A passport officer at the embassy showing Amb Amobi how the machine works

The Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration Rilwan Bala Musa was on hand on the 28th of March 2013 for the commissioning ceremony held at the Nigerian Embassy in Stockholm.

With this development Nigerians in the Nordic countries will now be able to process and procure their Nigerian passport with ease after fulfilling the passport issuance or renewal requirements.

Biometric Machine at the Nigerian Embassy in Stockholm

In a previous post:

http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/adeola-aderounmu/the-disgraceful-misadventures-of-the-nigerian-immigration-service.html

l had complain bitterly about the harrowing experiences of Nigerians in the Nordic region in procuring or renewing their passports.

The Nigerian Embassy in Sweden was opened in 1967. So, after 46 years of its existence the embassy in Stockholm finally made a landmark achievement that will alleviate the plights of Nigerians in the Nordica countries.

Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration Riliwan Giwa speaking with the Ambassador and other people present at the commissioning ceremony in Stockholm

The present Nigerian Ambassador to Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland Mr. Benedict Onochie Amobi made it the number-one target of his administration to ensure that the biometric machines are installed and functional. By working closely together with the Nigeria Immigration Office in Nigeria the promise he made when he assumed office in 2012 has now been fulfilled.

aderounmu@gmail.com

Merry Christmas From Sweden..!

Adeola Aderounmu

Adeola

Adeola Aderounmu

I wish my friends, family and readers around the world a Merry Christmas this 2012.

Adeola Aderounmu

I also wish you a Happy New Year ahead. Remember that on January 2 2013, the New Year is no longer new. Ultimately, everyday is just another day.

Adeola Aderounmu

Best wishes
Adeola

Winter Time And Accidents in Stockholm

Adeola Aderounmu

There are no expert or clever drivers when it comes to slippery roads caused by snow fall.

Here are two classical examples of what can happen to you when you drive at the “normal speed” around curve roads on during winter.

When you approach curve roads or unfamiliar roads it is better to reduce your speed to below the usual recommended limits

Car in Ditch

This car was either turning right or left into the road but it ended in a ditch because it turned at a high speed. I know because it is a road I drive past almost on a daily basis. The driver ended up in the dicth either due to ignorance of the road or underestimation of the effect of snow on the road. If the driver was cautious and still ended up in the dicth, then he or she probably has summer tyres on.

Akalla Road 275

This second image is total careless driving. It could have ended badly and sadly if the driver had met an oncoming car or vehicle in the opposite direction.

This accident happened on a day we had wet snow. The driver was approaching a curve and kept a speed of 70km/h or more. At the curve, he swerved into adjacent lane meant for opposite traffic. He must have been very lucky not to run directly into an oncoming vehicle and I think I got there 5 or 10 minutes after the accident.

People should be more careful when they drive in the winter. Accidents rate automatically goes up during this time but with more caution, driving can still be safe regardless of the season.

God jul!

The Most Stupid Question In The World

The most stupid question in the world

By Adeola Aderounmu

Just recently at 2 separate places two people spoke about the question that irritated them the most when talking to people in Sweden.

These two people will probably never meet or have reasons to meet unless I bring them together. I know them from different places and by chance occurrences.

One of them a young woman who has lived in Sweden since she was 2 and who recently returned to Sweden after living abroad for more than 10 years.

The other person is a professor who has lived in Sweden for more than 30 years.

As far as they are concerned the most stupid question in the world is when someone ask you “where are you from”?
This question is arguably the most common question in Sweden. Somehow if you are not careful you will be asking people that question too, unconsciously. This is because you have had to answer this question a million times as an immigrant settled in Sweden.

The argument is that when you live in the United States, it is hard to be asked such a question. Even in Abu Dhabi, you will likely not have to answer that question at all. But in Sweden, be prepared, it is coming again.
There are some children and some parents who have spent their entire life in Sweden, yet they are asked daily by acquaintances and strangers-where are you from?

Some children go home and tell their parents-that they answered-I am from Uganda and Nigeria. Or I am from Sweden and Gambia. But their parents want them to answer like this-I am from Sweden, I was born here.

It is sad actually that no matter your heritage, no matter how long you’ve lived in Sweden and no matter if you are born in Sweden the most common question and of course the most stupid question in the world remains-where are you from?

Murder in Sollentuna

Ade Aderounmu

Sometimes life is just going on as if nothing serious has happened.

But not exactly-serious things happen around the world everyday. In Sollentuna an area towards the north of Stockholm one guy put a gun to the head of his sleeping girlfriend and killed her. It was like an execution since investigations now revealed that the gun shot was likely from a range as near as 5-10cm. This happened in August this year.

The 18 year-old guy lied when he told the police they had been playing with the gun. The girl, 17 year-old, was asleep when she was shot and died 2 days later at the hospital. The boy was the one who called the police saying that his girlfriend has been shot. He was the shooter.

The trial begins shortly.

(credit: metro Stockholm)