Biafran Passports not valid – US, UK governments

The governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America has stated that the passports being issued by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), are not recognised by their governments.

This comes after Sunny Okereafor, the National Director of Information of MASSOB had a few weeks ago, boasted that the passport was valid and accepted worldwide except in Nigeria.

Okereafor was quoted to have said: “Nigeria is the only country that seizes Biafran passport. Go to neighbouring Ghana here, they will stamp the passport for you. Don’t be confused by the propaganda of the Nigerian government that there is nothing like Biafra passport.

The leadership of MASSOB has been appealing to citizens of Biafra to procure their passport and use it to travel. If you doubt me, get a Nigerian passport while I have my Biafran passport; when we get to Europe, you will see who they will welcome than the other. Many people with the Nigerian passport have been repatriated, but have you heard of anybody with Biafran passport receiving such ill-treatment?”

Punch Newspapers however reports that contrary to the claims of the MASSOB spokesperson a correspondence with the American consulate and British High Commission indicates that the Biafra passport is not recognised.

The Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the US consulate, Frank Sellin, was quoted to have said: “The United States does not consider passports purporting to be from a Biafra entity to be a valid legal document for purposes of visa issuance.”

Similarly, a statement obtained from the Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, Abuja, Joe Abuku, says in part: “The answer is unequivocally ‘no’. The UK does not recognise the so-called Biafran passport.”

“The position of the UK Government during the Biafran War is a matter of historical record. The UK Government’s position, which reflected the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity, was to recognise the borders laid down at independence.

The Biafran War caused great suffering and the UK supported the reconciliation work that followed the conflict. The UK supports the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the Nigerian Government’s commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all Nigerians.”