The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)

  • Immigration service to re-organise directorates

    Immigration service to re-organise directorates

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has concluded plans to re-jig its directorates in order to enhance its operations and service delivery to Nigerians and foreigners.

    The new NIS spokesperson, Mr Sunday James, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja at a meeting with Interior Correspondents.

    He said that a proposal had been forwarded to the NIS management to the Federal Government for the rearrangement of the Directorates and the creation of new directorates.

    James outlined the proposed directorates as Passport and other Travel Documents, Visas and Residency, Investigation and Inspectorate, Border Patrol, Migration Finance and Administration, and Planning, Research and Statistics.

    “The purpose of the rearrangement is to improve and re-equip the proposed Directorates, the department and schedules under them as the service embarks on the implementation of its strategic road map 2016-2019,’’ he said.

    The spokesman disclosed that the NIS management retreat in 2016 in Kano had redefined the NIS core mandate to introduce institutional relevance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), infrastructure and operational excellence.

    He said that the NIS Comptroller General, Mr Muhammad Babandede, has promised to ensure appropriate training for staff at all levels to improve efficiency.

    James, therefore, called on the media and other stakeholders to join the NIS in its bid to enhance service delivery in line with international best practice.

  • 21 immigration officers promoted in Bayelsa

    21 immigration officers promoted in Bayelsa

    A total of 21 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Bayelsa Command, have been promoted to their next rank following the release of results of a recent promotion examination by the service.

    Addressing the newly-promoted officers on Tuesday in Bayelsa, Mr William Oche, the Comptroller of the Command, urged them to be more dedicated to their duties and brace up for more responsibilities.

    Oche said that the exercise was a motivation and call to greater commitment to duty.

    He said that the service expected more dedication from the officers who were decorated with their new ranks.

    He also said that the exercise was continuous and was aimed at rewarding dedicated service to the country.

    The comptroller, therefore, advised officers who did not pass the last examination to put the past behind them and study hard in preparation for the next one.

    According to him, promotion in the service is based on merit to deserving personnel.

    He announced that the next promotion examination would be computer-based and urged eligible officers to sharpen their computer skills ahead of the test.

    Responding on behalf of the newly-promoted officers, Mrs Ngozi Acholonu, pledged loyalty to the NIS.

    She lauded the support of the comptroller and the command which provided a conducive work atmosphere to earn the promotion.

  • NIS uncovers new tactics by human traffickers, illegal immigrants

    NIS uncovers new tactics by human traffickers, illegal immigrants

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Katsina State Command, says it has uncovered new tactics used by human traffickers and illegal immigrants to cross the country’s borders.

    The Comptroller of the command, Mr Muhammad Rabi’u, made the disclosure in Katsina on Thursday at the decoration of 121 newly-promoted officers of the service.

    Rabi’u said that traffickers and illegal immigrants had now resorted to riding on the back of animals like donkeys, horses and motorcycles to cross the borders.

    He said the traffickers walked long distances through the forests of the border communities to enter the Niger Republic, pass through Libya and then Europe.

    According to him, the command has arrested a good number of suspected human traffickers, rescued their victims and handed them over to relevant authorities, from January 2016 to date.

    The comptroller revealed that two officers sustained injuries as a result of an auto crash while discharging their duties during the period under review.

    He said that the command would continue to intensify patrols in the border areas to make the borders more secure.

    He commended the Federal Government for providing modern facilities that would assist to provide intelligence information on border activities.

    Rabiu urged the promoted officers and men to reciprocate the gesture through hard work and dedication to duty for the attainment of the desired objective.

    ”You are now expected to live up to this new higher level of responsibility and responsiveness.

    ‘’I enjoin you to continue to put in your best for our noble service and beloved country,’’ he said.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Kasim Ilyasu, was also decorated with his new rank of Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI).

    Mr Haji Idris, the new Deputy Comptroller of Immigration who spoke on behalf of the promoted officers, assured that they would continue to put in their best to secure the borders.

  • We’ll reposition NIS to world standard – Dambazau

    We’ll reposition NIS to world standard – Dambazau

    The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, says the Federal Government is determined ‎to reposition the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to enable it compete favourably with its global counterparts.

    Danbazau said this at the opening of 2016 Nigeria Immigration Service Retreat in Kano on Thursday.

    He said that modern migration was a major area of focus in reforming operations of the ministry and NIS‎ in view of associated socio-economic and security challenges.

    He urged the participants at the retreat to come up with a way to resolve the issue of passport, visa and border security in the country.

    The minister also advised them to concentrate on the three main focus of the Federal Government of economy, corruption and security.

    Earlier, Mr Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, had assured that he would reposition the service for greater efficiency in line with international best practices.

    Babandede said that welfare and training of officers and men of the service would be pursued, stressing that the measure would go a long way in enhancing their performance.

    “Seamless service delivery can only be successfully implemented through a well-trained and motivated workforce,” he said.

    While promising to be more proactive in addressing issues that affect the NIS, he told the participants that ‎the retreat was aimed at better performance.

    Babandede assured Nigerians that the service would continue to strive to provide timely world-class services and enabling environment for its customers.

    According to News Agency of Nigeria {NAN}, Kano state governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, in his remarks commended the Federal Government for creating a platform to reposition the service.

    He urged the participants to use the forum to reposition the service for effective service delivery and to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

  • Six arrested Britons to be deported – Immigration boss

    Six arrested Britons to be deported – Immigration boss

    The six Britons arrested last Saturday for violating Nigerian Immigration Laws are to be deported the Comptroller- General of Immigrations, Martins Kure Abeshi  has said.

    Abeshi, who made the revelation Tuesday before the House of Representatives Committee on Interior headed by Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba said the expatriates have breached Nigeria’s immigration laws and would therefore be deported.

    Part VIII, Sections 56 (1-7); 58; 59; and 60 (1–5) of the Immigration Act, 2015 which provides for the immigration offences and penalties, stipulates a term of imprisonment of 10 years or fine of N2 million.

    While reacting to questions in the Britons from Hon. Sunday Katung, representing Zango Kataf Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, the NIS boss said;

    “I just arrived from abroad Monday and met this case. As I’m talking, yesterday in the evening, the company that employed those expatriates, after my discussion with them they are to be responsible for their air ticket. As I’m talking now I’m sure they have been flown out.”

    While putting the case in perspective, Immigration boss said:

    “One company employed them. They were in the services of that company, but they travelled out, when they were coming back, another employer gave them visa to come, which is against immigration law, it is against the law of the land. So their first employer complained about these expatiates, so it is an offence they have committed and we have ordered their deportation.

    “When we conduct our operation and discover that someone who is not a Nigerian is living in this country illegally, he will be repatriated. That is on our own part, they have to go.

    “There is another angle to it. If he is a worker, working in a company and we discover that he does not have papers to stay in this country, he has committed an offense against the state, the company that the expatriate is working will give us money; buy ticket or whatever is their responsibility.

    “Before anybody takes an appointment here as an expatriate, the Organization will write to immigration that they are taking immigration responsibility for that expatriate.

    “If that expatriate commits any offence against the company and they want to remove him, that company must provide ticket so that the person is removed from this country.”

    Recall that the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), had arrested six Britons following on alleged breach of Nigeria laws especially sections of the Immigration Act, 2015 regulating expatriate quota.

    The expatriates were working for GMT Energy Resources, contractors to EXXONMOBIL, a US International Oil Company (IOC) in Nigeria with headquarters in Houston, Texas. At the time of the arrest of the six expatriates they were engaged by GMT in a project for the IOC.

  • Mark’s wife denies role in Immigration recruitment

    Wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs. Helen Onma Mark, Monday described as a “wicked lie” allegations that linked her with the consultants that organized the recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Saturday.

    Nineteen applicants including three pregnant women reportedly died in cities where the NIS recruitment exercise took place.

    Scores were injured.

    Mrs. Mark, who expressed shock at the reports, according to a statement by the Media Adviser to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja said the rumor was a mere fabrication of the imagination of those behind it.

    The statement quoted Mrs. Mark to have said that “it is very strange to me because I do not know the consultant that organized the recruitment exercise neither did I play any role in the recruitment exercise.

    “I have no relationship of any sorts and in whatever form with the said consultant.

    “This moment demands solemnity and mourning of the precious souls that were lost in the tragic incidents that occurred last Saturday.

    “It is not a time to settle political scores and I will therefore leave those dragging my name into this painful death of our youths to their consciences and unto God.

    “As a mother, I honestly sympathize with the parents of these youths as well as the nation in general over the loss of our children.”

  • New technology would have prevented NIS recruitment deaths

    New technology would have prevented NIS recruitment deaths

    Regrettably Job seekers in Nigeria died over the weekend trying to secure appointment with the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    This did not have to happen!

    Where there are high levels of unemployment it is to be expected that the demand for available vacancies will far outweigh supply of jobs, hence the large turnout for the exercise.

    As long as we are unable to cater for the teeming graduates seeking work, not to talk of those who are underemployed, we would continue to have a high turnout as witnessed.

    However this did not have to happen.

    Technological advancement has brought about solutions to deal with large number of candidates seeking few jobs.

    It was reported that over 500,000 candidates applied for the exercise.

    The first step is to short list those candidate who meet the recruitment criteria which would have been pre determined by the recruiting organisation.

    Apparently the entire candidates were invited to attend a form of screen at various centres across Nigeria.

    A short listing exercise would have been screened out those who fail to meet the criteria. Only those who meet the requirement advance to the next stage of the selection process.

    There are competent organisations in Nigeria who could have offered this solution.

    Each candidate can sit the initial verification exercise at the comfort of their home using their computer or at designated Test  Centres.

    Where recruiting organisation has concerns about the authenticity of the candidate responding to the initial verification, there are also solutions available to validate the initial screening, which may further reduce the number of applicants.

    At the end of the two stage process described above, the recruiting organisation would have a manageable number and failing that, further assessment could be carried out using Assessment Centres before commencing to the interview stages.

    Several private sector organisations and multinationals have successfully adopted this approach. A typical recruitment exercise by Shell Nigeria receives no less than half a million responses and they   manage the recruitment process effectively using online recruitment solutions.

    It is time we take advantage of technology to manage our recruitment and avoid what I call avoidable accidents.

    It is not rocket science to predict the NIS exercise was an accident waiting to happen.

    Other government agencies need to take note to avoid a repeat of this incident.

    It need not happen and we pray it does not happen again.

    May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

    Shola Ajani  is Group CEO, Human Capital Asset Management Group

  • Immigration recruitment : Five women slump in Ogun

    Five women slumped on Saturday and passed out in Ogun State following exhaustion and scorching sun while struggling to get recruited into the Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS).

    The affected women who collapsed at noon and were later revived by their colleagues, are among thousands of job seekers who surged into the Mudashiru Lawal Stadium, Abeokuta venue of the recruitment by NIS, Ogun State Command.

    Others were also injured during a stampede following sporadic shooting into the air by NIS officers to prevent some unruly applicants.

    Many also returned home bruised, humiliated, wearied and disappointed as shootings and confusion took the better part of the exercise in the state.

    The screening scheduled to begin by 9.00am did not commence until about 3.30pm and at stage, it turned rowdy.

    The NIS Spokesperson, Felix Kuti, said those who were rejected but refused to leave the premises were the ones trying to cause trouble at the venue.

    He said: “they were getting unmanageable and you know this venue with lots of
    cars and property if they were not sacred away by that shooting, they are ready to engage in violence as they had began throwing stones an the screening points.”

  • Immigration recruitment: 3 applicants die in Niger

    Three of the over 11,000 candidates for the aptitude test for recruitment  into the Nigeria Immigration Service were on Saturday feared dead in Minna, Niger State capital.

    They died  following a stampede during accreditation and clearance of candidates to enter into the examination hall.

    Situation got out of the control of Immigration personnel as the applicants overwhelmed the officials supervising  the exercise forcing one of the officers to open tear gas and in the process seven persons collapsed and were rushed to the hospital where three persons gave up the ghost.

    Trouble started when the applicants became unruly as they complained of  the slow pace of the accreditation the Chief examiner from the headquarters of the service whom we gathered insisted to call names of the candidates based on the serial numbers of the application forms but did not go down well with the candidates.

    This development precipitated a rowdy session as most candidates who were on a queue became apprehensive and complained that the line, which was over a kilometre was not moving as anticipated.

    One of the victims that was rushed to Minna General Hospital was in a critical condition while the  other three injured victims are said to have been stable but quarantined from the public and the media.

    Efforts to get details about the victims were fruitless as the hospital authority and staff refused to comment based on security directive.

    But a medical personnel confirmed that three of the seven injured persons were dead, one in critical condition while the other three are in stable condition.

    He further said that the bodies of those who died have been deposited at the mortuary .

    But the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ibrahim Sule said only two of the applicants dead. According to him, “one female was reported dead on arrival at the hospital and the other male applicant died at Minna General Hospital.‬”

    ‪He also said that four other males were equally treated and discharged, while seven other females applicants are currently receiving treatment for their injuries at the hospital.‬

    The Niger State Controller of Immigration Service, Ezekiel S. Kaura confirmed that 11,000 candidates sat for the recruitment examination in Minna centre but said that five collapsed as a result stampeded and were rushed to the hospital.

  • Photo: Immigration recruitment

    Photo: Immigration recruitment