The Nation Newspaper

Tag: immigration

  • LADOL, Immigration to check influx of expatriates

    LADOL, Immigration to check influx of expatriates

    Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) are seeking ways to curb influx of expatriates into the oil and gas free trade zones across the country.

    The development resulted in a meeting between the Nigerian Immigration Service and LADOL management in Lagos. The discussion centred on how to improve the operation of the nation’s oil and gas by improving indigenous participation in the sector.

    The Nigerian Immigration Service, Comptroller General, Mohammed Babandede, said the command would help in promoting the participation of Nigerians in the energy and other sectors.

    He said NIS would tighten its noose on Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones (FTZs) to make it difficult for expatriates to unduly come into the zones.

    He said the body has decided to embark on strict monitoring of the zones after seeing the job potentials in some of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones in the country, especially LADOL Free Trade Zone.

    He said the agency is taking this step  to prevent immigrants or foreigners from taking over some oil and gas jobs, and further promote the local content policy of the Federal Government.

    According to him, it is imperative to look into the activities of foreigners that are coming into Nigeria in order to ascertain their level of fitness.

    Babandede said Nigeria has enough experts to work with, adding that the country should by 2040 be exporting its labour to other countries instead of allowing illegal expatriates to come and take its jobs.

    “The country boasts of experts, mainly graduates that can provide services, hitherto rendered by expatriates.  Technology transfer is stimulating the growth of the economy and Nigeria is benefiting from this idea. NIS, as a service, must assist in providing jobs and safety of the country. Things have changed in Nigeria. Business is not done the way it is being done before.

    “Business is no longer based on corruption.  There is a vision that would take Nigeria to another level. As law enforcement agency, we want to be part of that vision.  We do not want to see ourselves as people who wear uniforms and berets only. We want to see ourselves as contributing to the economic development of the country.  We want to see ourselves as law enforcement agents that would provide jobs and make the society safe,” the NIS boss added.

    He said the Immigration would partner with other law enforcement agents, the management of LADOL Free Zone, technocrats, investors and other stakeholders to protect jobs in the country.

    The Managing Director, LADOL, Ms Amy Jadesimi, reiterated the need to create more jobs in the oil and gas free trade zones, adding it is imperative to move the economy forward.

    She said this can only be possible when foreigners were thoroughly screened before they were allowed into the country, noting that some foreigners do not have the required papers to stay in the country.

    She said the firm has created more jobs for Nigerians than expatriates, adding that LADOL would keep to its vision of providing jobs in the country.

  • 50 Nigerians deported from European countries arrive Lagos

    Some 50 Nigerians were on Thursday deported from eight European countries for committing immigration-related offences.

    The Nigerians were deported from Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Hungary.

    Their deportation is coming barely 48 hours after another set of 40 Nigerians were deported by the Italian Government, for similar reasons.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fresh batch of deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA), Lagos at about 7.36 a.m.

    The deportees, comprising of 48 males and two females, were brought back in a chartered Privileged Time aircraft, with registration number EC-L20.

    DSP Joseph Alabi, spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development to NAN.

    Alabi said: “this morning, we received 50 Nigerians who were brought back from Europe.

    “We had three males from Switzerland; from Germany, we had seven males; from Sweden, we had four males, from Luxembourg, we had six males; from Austria, we had 18, comprising of 17 males and one female.

    “From Belgium, we had only one female; from Spain, we had five males and finally from Hungary, we had six males, which makes it a total of 50,’’ he said.

    Alabi said all the deportees were alleged to have committed immigration-related offences in their host countries.

    Alabi said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    NAN gathered that the deportees were profiled by immigration authorities and were allowed to depart to their various destinations.

     

  • Housing loan for 60 Immigration officers

    The Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank, has secured a housing loan facility for 60 officers and men of the service.

    The facility is worth N60 million.

    Comptroller General, (CG) of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, disclosed this at the official presentation of a dummy cheque to beneficiaries.

    Babandede said the development is part of efforts to enhance the welfare package of the workforce for improved productivity and efficient service delivery.

    He also noted that it will help curb corruption in the service, adding that owing a house for officers and men is one thing that government should encourage through loans.

    The immigration boss told the beneficiaries that deduction will start immediately during the payment of their salaries urging that to spend wisely.

    He said, “I have been talking to my staff on discipline and I have been telling them that they should not be corrupt. You can’t achieve that without giving them something. Safety of lives is very important. For my officers and men I like to put them in a safe place. When corruption becomes high, so people do not know what to do, you spend 35 years in service and you do not have where to put your head.

    “Retiring in a rented house is the worst thing that could happen to anyone. So when this opportunity came I considered it good for the service. So far sixty (60) officers and men have benefited from the scheme. The scheme is a partnership between the NIS and our National Housing Fund managers, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. It is designed to leverage on the National Housing Fund contributory package to ensure that all participants get decent commitment and dedication from the workforce.”

    The Executive Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Charles Ajiba told the service that it will not regret partnering with the bank adding that its goal is to provide long time plan for people especially civil servants that want to own their houses.

  • FG to launch new immigration regulation

    FG to launch new immigration regulation

    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau will on Monday officially launch the new Immigration Regulations, 2017 to ensure better security and Immigration in the country.

    Mr Sunday James, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said that the Immigration Regulations, 2017 was a vital document that sought to operationalise the Immigration Act, 2015.
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    “The honourable Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, (retired) will officially present the Immigration Regulations 2017 to the public on Monday, March, 20, 2017.

    “The Immigration Regulations 2017 is a vital document that operationalises the Immigration Act 2015 and provides the legal framework for the effective implementation of the Act,” he said.

    He further said the new immigration regulation was a product of robust discourse that involved legal and migratory experts, including serving and retired immigration officers.

    James expressed optimism that the document, if properly implemented, would go a long way in transforming the operations of NIS in line with international best practices.
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    NAN reports that the Immigration Act, 2015 contains updated structure and functions of NIS in relation to immigration, passports, deportation, visas, resident permits and general immigration offences.

    The Act also gives effect in the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the provisions of the protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea, air which supplements the UN Convention Against Transitional Organised Crime.
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    The Act was enacted by the National Assembly in May, 2015 to the Immigration Act, 2004.

  • Immigration: Presidency advises Nigerians to delay travel to U.S.

    Immigration: Presidency advises Nigerians to delay travel to U.S.

    The Federal Government on Monday advised Nigerians who have no compelling or urgent reason to travel to the U.S. to postpone their travel plans until the new administration’s policy on immigration is clear.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Abike Dabiri-Erewa gave the advice in Abuja.

    Dabiri-Erewa in a statement by her media aide Abdurrahman Balogun, said that the warning became imperative due to series of reports received by her office.

    “In the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple-entry U.S. visas being denied entry and sent back to the Nigeria.

    “In such cases reported to the office, such affected persons were sent back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were cancelled.

    “No reasons were given for the decision by the U.S. immigration authorities,” she said

    She, however, reminded Nigerians in the Diaspora to abide by the rules and regulations of their host countries and be good ambassadors of the country.

    NAN reports that Nigeria was not among a group of countries from which Trump wants to suspend travel to the U. S. on security grounds.

    President Donald Trump is to sign a revised executive order to “clarify who is covered” under a policy that halted entry to the U.S. from several Muslim countries, White House Adviser, Kellyanne Conway said on Monday.

    Conway said that there would be “a new executive order” to take effect March 16, and that Iraq was no longer included “based on their enhanced screening and reporting measures.”

    The document would replace an order in late January that temporarily banned tourist, immigration and most other entries from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days.

    Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen were the former countries that were affected by the initial order.

    The order caused travellers to be stranded at different international airports around the world and set off a wave of protests.

    It was later blocked by a court.

    The January order also suspended the U.S. refugee programme for 120 days and indefinitely blocked refugees from Syria.

    Under the new order, Syrian refugees “are treated the way all refugees are,” and it makes “much clearer if you have travel docs, if you actually have a visa.

    “If you are a legal permanent resident, you are not banned under this particular executive action,” Conway said.

    Earlier on Monday in Baghdad, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal said the ministry voiced “deep relief” at press reports that Iraq would not be on the new banned list.

    He described the anticipated move as “an important step in the right direction in order to consolidate the strategic alliance between Baghdad and Washington in many areas.

    He pointed out that the relationship between the two countries most importantly the war on terrorism. (NAN)

  • Immigration repatriates 769 in Cross River

    The Cross River Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Friday said that it had repatriated 769 migrants who gained entry into the state without valid travel documents this year.

    The state Comptroller of NIS, Mrs. Funke Adeuyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

    Adeuyi told NAN that the illegal immigrants were arrested at different border posts across the state and brought to the command’s headquarters in Calabar.

    According to her, the command did a thorough profiling of the immigrants and found out that some of them did not have valid documents needed to enter Nigeria.

    “From January, 2016, till date, we have repatriated 769 illegal immigrants who came into Nigeria without valid travel documents.

    “Also during the year under review, about 39 immigrants were refused entry into Nigeria based on lack of valid travel documents and other related reasons.

    “We will continue to police the borders with a view to curbing illegal migration, child theft and trafficking, and other heinous crimes.

    “On a sad note, we have lost five of our officers this year,’’ she said.

    She attributed the success of the command to the sustained efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Mohammed Babandede.

    She said Babandede had continued to empower the service with the enabling tools to fight human trafficking, child labour and illegal migration.

     

     

     

  • Immigration generates over N40.7b revenue

    Immigration generates over N40.7b revenue

    The Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) yesterday said it has generated and remitted over N40.7billion into the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) from January to November this year.

    Controller-General (CG) of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, who spoke after decorating 17 and 37 officers promoted to Assistant Controller General (ACG) and Controller of Immigrations respectively, said while the naira denomination stood at N29 billion, $26 million was generated, totalling N40.7 billion.

    He equally spoke on the proposed presentation of tax clearance before the issuance of passport and the increase in the passport fees, pointing out that though he has recommended, it is the responsibility of the government to enforce it.

    Speaking specifically on the income generation, the CG said: “We remit our income directly into the TSA very well and promptly too. In fact, we deserve commendations from government and we have even generated more revenue this year than last year.

    “We have been able to generate N29 billion as at November 30 compared with the N23 billion we generated last year. We have also exceeded our limit in international currency by generating $26 million compared with the $23 million last year. We have really done well by remitting these generations into the coffers of the federal government.”

    On the payment of tax before issuing passport, Babandede said: “It is the responsibility of government to put a check on anybody who has not paid his tax and we are ready to assist and anybody who did not pay his tax should not enjoy facilities in the country.

    “We don’t have any objection to that, but we are not going to implement it until we work out the strategy of how we are going to check this tax system. We might likely check it online to avoid presentation of fake papers.

    “It is a policy issue that government wants to collect tax and they have the right to say that anybody must pay tax before enjoying government facilities. There is nothing wrong with that idea and it is not true that it is coming by this time. Those who pay their tax have nothing to worry.”

    Asked when the increase in the passport fees will take effect, he replied: “We have not increased yet but I know that there could be an increase. I have recommended to the government and it is left for them to determine when the increase will be implemented.”

    He also expressed delight in the promotion of 3218 officers, adding that the exercise has brought the total number of promoted personnel since he assumed duty to over 5000.

  • Immigration proposes extension of passport’s validity to 10 years 

    Immigration proposes extension of passport’s validity to 10 years 

    The President Muhammadu Buhari administration is considering extending validity period for international passports from its present five to 10 years.

    The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, who said this to reporters in his office on Saturday, added that Nigerians should expect an announcement on the policy changes in the coming months.

    “We have submitted a memo to the president and we believe we’ll get a positive response to that soon,” Mr. Babandede said, according to Premium Times.

    The immigration chief said the review was the government’s response to several months of complaints from Nigerians and other foreign elements, who said the five-year validity period is too short.

    Citizens demanded that the NIS should reverse to the old policy that Nigeria had in place before 2007.

    Back then, the Nigerian passport was valid for 10 years with additional five years validity for renewal.

    “We have received complaints that passports only take five years,” Babandede said.

    “The international community is not happy, wondering why passports will only be five years.”

  • 200 Nigerians deported from Libya 

    No fewer than 200 Nigerians were on Monday deported from Libya.

    The deportees arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to Immigration sources, the deportees were received at the cargo wing of the airport, where they underwent documentation procedures.

    Details later…..

  • Immigration to screen 2000 applicants

    Immigration to screen 2000 applicants

    The Federal Government has reviewed the case of the 2,000 Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) applicants said to have been irregularly issued employment letters in February 2015.

    A statement by NIS spokesman Ekpedeme King said: ‘The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) wishes to inform the 2,000 applicants for employment into the service, who were irregularly issued letters of employment in February, 2015, that the Federal Government has approved a review of the case.

    “Following an emergency meeting of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) on August 11, 2016, guidelines were issued to screen the applicants: security clearance, drug test, certificate verification and implementation of CDFIPB policy on “age on rank”

    “Consequent on the above, applicants, whose names are listed in the NIS website: www.immigration.gov.ng, should report to the NIS Headquarters in Abuja with their academic certificates; birth certificate; previous employment records (if any); indigene certificates (originals and photocopies), two passport photographs, and in batches according to the timetable: rank, state of origin, date, Asi2 (Conpass 08). Abia – Jigawa, Kaduna – Zamfara August 29, 2016, August 30, 2016

    “Aii (Conpass 06), Abia – Jigawa, Kaduna – Zamfara. August 31, 2016, September 1, 2016, “Ia1 – Ia3 (Conpass 3,4,5), Abia – Edo, Ekiti – Kwara, Lagos – Zamfara, September 2, 2016, September 3, 2016, September 4, 2016.

    “The public should note that the exercise is not a call for fresh recruitment. Therefore, no application for recruitment should be sent to the NIS.”