Tag: immigration

A total of 714 Cadets who completed their Superintendents Basic Course have graduated from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Training School in Kano, the Service announced on Monday, July 15.

The Service also announced that the Cadets received Presidential Commissioning at the event which was attended by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap.

Speaking at the Passing out parade, Mrs Nandap congratulated the Cadets for “successfully undergoing the pivotal training intended to enhance their capacity building in border governance, migration policies, intelligence gathering, and teamwork”.

According to a statement from the NIS Spokesman, Kenneth Udo, the Comptroller-General said the Service would continue to give priority to capacity building and collaborate with stakeholders to sustain the tempo of training and human capital development in the Service.

She said the graduands have made the right choice for joining the Service and charged them to shun politics and be security conscious, dedicated and passionate about their duties.

Nandap expressed commitment towards the full implementation of the e-border projects to facilitate real-time surveillance and monitoring of expansive borders, noting that the e-gates project at International Airports, as well as the Advanced Passenger Information (API)/Passenger Name Record (PNR), would ensure effective, efficient and seamless passenger clearance systems at the Airports.

 She said the Command and Control/Data Centres at the Service Headquarters, Abuja was almost completed and would soon be commissioned.

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Nandap also said the rollout of the e-Enhanced Passport shall be sustained in all local Formations and Foreign Missions of the Service until 100% transition is achieved.

 She charged Heads of Formations to make the automation of Passport application processes meant to curb sharp practices and improve service delivery with reduced human interface, more effective, efficient, and user-friendly.

The Federal Government has announced that the next stage of recruitment exercise into Federal Fire Service (FFS) under the Ministry of Interior would begin in August.

Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, announced this in a statement yesterday.

He said: “The Board will begin the next stage of the recruitment exercise in August and will conclude the exercise before the end of September.”

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Ahmed also apologized for the Board’s inability to complete the process by June 15 as earlier intended. “It was due to a nationwide manpower audit carried out in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) which was just recently ended.

“All shortlisted candidates will be duly notified of the next stage through their phone numbers and email addresses,” he added.

Dasuki Arabi, the director general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), announced on Friday, July 12, that after seventeen years of persistence, the government has resolved the outstanding severance benefits for 1,330 Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officers who were disengaged during the 2006/2007 reform programme.

Speaking after the verification and payment exercise for the NIS-severed staff in Abuja, Arabi commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its unwavering commitment to addressing this long-standing issue.

The Nigerian Immigration Service is one of over 250 federal parastatals affected by the severance policy of the 2006/2007 reform programme.

During this period, the NIS disengaged a total of 1,330 officers across various cadres and grade levels.

According to the DG, “This, did not go down well with the disengaged officers. Complaints, agitations, and petitions were raised to several quarters agitating for the reversal of the disengagement. When the reversal became impossible because it was a government policy that needed to be fulfilled and implemented for the good of the country, other agitations were again raised.

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“Agitations such as effecting the salary scale of CONPASS as against HAPSS to be used as it was used for sister agencies such as Nigerian Customs Service and Nigerian Prisons Service. This further created more agitations and complaints. All efforts to resolve the problem became a hard nut to crack.  The problem became a conundrum and lingered for a span of about seventeen (17) years without a resolve”.

The unrelenting efforts of the DG of BPSR, who was new to the problem, and other stakeholders such as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Civil Service Commission, Office of the Auditor General of the Federation and others culminated in the success of the exercise which we are presently celebrating as an achievement.

In 2023, the exercise began with a verification exercise on 27th November, this meeting was held because the payment of the disengaged officers which lingered for seventeen years had finally been made to all the officers who availed themselves for the exercise and were eventually verified. The records show that 885 officers were verified and subsequently paid their outstanding benefits.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nandap has called on Nigerian boarder communities to support the service by providing it with useful information for better and effective security at the nation’s borders.

The Comptroller-General made the call while interacting with the border communities at Maigari international boarder in Jigawa State during her official visit to the state. She told the people that “the service is in dire need of support and assistance of all stakeholders to ensure safety of our borders”.

Mrs Nandap expressed concern over the recent cases of human trafficking of under-age girls: “One of it is the under-age victims found and rescued from Ghana. The case is really painful and disheartening to any right thinking parent.

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“In this regard, I’m pleading with the members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and National Association of Transport Owners (NATOR) to please assist us in monitoring and providing us with any suspicious passengers at motor parks, because most of acts are being carried out through our roads”.

She said it is in view of the porous nature of the boarders that the agency found it “necessary to put extra attention and involve well meaning citizens to ensure that all borders are safe and secure”.

She said: “Due to this, the federal government is applying technological system and digitalizing surveillance cameras and linkage to the national headquarters where all are being monitored and supervised 24/7”.

Addressing the officers and men of the Immigration Services at Maigari international boarder, the Comptroller General said, “The Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to providing the service with latest improved technological working equipment to ensure effective manning of all the borders.”

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap has solicited the support of market women, youths and traditional rulers for proper monitoring and surveillance of Nigeria borders.

Nandap said their support has become imperative as critical stakeholders in managing the nation’s borders, especially the vast unmanned areas.

Nandap made the remarks during assessment tours to Nigeria borders towns and villages in Katsina and Jigawa States.

A statement from the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Kenneth Udo, also said the Immigration boss visited former President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Emir of Daura Alhaji Umar Farouk during the tour.

He said during the tour, the CG visited the Fago Patrol Base, Daura Forward Operational Base and Kongolam Border control post as well as Magatari Control Post where she inspected the ongoing e-border projects and other facilities.

Nandap called on critical stakeholders at the border communities especially traditional leaders, youth leaders, transport unions and market women, to support the Service in safeguarding the country’s borders particularly in the vast unmanned areas.

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She warned the stakeholders on the dangers of transborder organised crimes such as smuggling of migrants and Trafficking in persons with particular emphasis on the need to always provide useful information on the activities of irregular migrants.

While interacting with other security agencies, Nandap called for continued collaboration in the task of effective border governance, noting that, “a safe border is a safe nation”.

She urged border officers to display utmost professionalism in the discharge of their duties and to be extra vigilant in manning the borders.

She said the federal government is committed to improving the working condition of officers at the borders through provision of logistics, accommodation and continuous capacity building.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the appointment of Kenneth Tyoapine Udo, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, as its new spokesman.

A statement from the public relations unit of the NIS, Kenneth Kure, noted that the Comptroller General of the Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap, approved the appointment of Udo, as the new Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO).

Udo succeeded Adedotun Aridegbe, a Comptroller of Immigration who now serves as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Comptroller-General. 

Udo hails from Konshisha LGA of Benue State and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Abuja.

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Kure said his professional development included the completion of various courses within and outside the country, including the 30th Superintendent Basic Course at the Immigration Training School in Kano.

Others include the Roundtable on Sudan Crises and Regional Security by the National Defence College, Return Counseling toolkit training, promoting migration protection and Decision Making, organized by IOM, UN Migration, and the European Union.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the outgoing Comptroller-General of Immigration Service (CGIS), Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, for exceptional service to the country.

During the pull-out parade ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo expressed gratitude to the retiring immigration boss for successful implementation of reforms, clearing passport backlogs, and enhancing security at border posts.

The Minister said: “On behalf of the President of Nigeria, I extend appreciation to the outgoing Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service for her outstanding contributions. She not only elevated the standards of the Service but also positively impacted millions in our society.

“Conceiving ideas is one thing, but executing them flawlessly is another. I commend you for your role in implementing the reforms we collaborated on, including clearing over 200,000 passport backlogs within two weeks.

“Additionally, the imminent launch of the command-and-control center, alongside revamped security measures at our border posts, reflects our joint commitment to enhancing national security.

“I am particularly grateful for your exemplary leadership. Throughout your tenure, not once did I encounter a crisis that required my intervention. You fostered a sense of unity within your team, treating them like family”.

Adepoju expressed gratitude to God, the President, the Minister of Interior, colleagues, and Nigerians for their support.

She praised her team, declaring them the best ever assembled by the Nigeria Immigration Service and urged support for ongoing reforms, ensuring citizens’ respite in passport acquisition.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to God, the President, and all stakeholders for their support throughout my tenure. It’s been an honour to lead the Nigeria Immigration Service, and I commend my dedicated team for their hard work and commitment.

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“As I bid farewell, I urge my successors to continue the positive reforms we initiated for the benefit of our nation and its citizens. Under the leadership of the Minister of Interior, we have made significant strides in improving passport acquisition and enhancing border security.

“I’m confident that the incoming leadership, under Comptroller General Kemi Nana Nandap, will further advance the service and uphold its values,” Adepoju said.

Incoming Comptroller General, Kemi Nana Nandap, lauded the outgoing CGIS for her outstanding contributions, describing her tenure as marked by diligence, sacrifice, and selflessness.

Nandap said: “Today, we celebrate the remarkable career of outgoing CGIS Wura-Ola Adepoju, whose dedication and leadership have left an indelible mark on the Nigeria Immigration Service.”

The event saw attended by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional Fire and Immigration Board, Ahmed Ja’Afaru, Chairman House Committee on Interior, Ahmed Abdullahi, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, the Director Joint Service in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Peter Egbodo, among others.