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Tag: Nigerian Immigration Service

  • NIS Lagos Command launches anti-corruption campaign

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, on Wednesday launched “anti-corruption campaign” to ensure transparency and seamlessness in the process of getting international passports.

    Speaking at the launch at the NIS Lagos State Command office in Ikoyi, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos Command, Ekpedeme King, said the launch was to reawaken the war against corruption and to ensure transparency in the process of getting passport.

    According to him, getting a passport does not need anyone to come to the passport office with cash.

    He said: “We have made the process easy to be done electronically. The forms can be gotten online and filled before approaching the passport office. You should have made payment and don’t need to come with cash, because the process is now cashless in all our facilities in the immigration.”

    He urged those who want to get passport to follow the online procedures, noting that once this is done, it will make it easier for the officers to deliver on the seamless facilities expected from them.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Immigration Officer, 14 others for alleged passport racketeering

    “Following the online process is transparent; you will be given a date for an interview when you complete the forms online which is programmed. It is done in a way to help you and to help us give you the seamless facility you wanted. If all Nigerians are to honour the date, it will be easy for us because it is programmed.

    “I want Nigerians to know that we have launched the anti-corruption and transparency war in the NIS. We have started from the headquarters to the state command and we want to assure Nigerians that we are going to listen to complains and petitions and we want to improve on that transparency so that it will impact not just the immigration service but other government agencies and the country at large,” King said.

    He explained that the campaign was first launched at the service’s headquarters in Abuja on the July 11, by the Comptroller General Mohammad Babandede.

    “The idea is to reawaken the war against corruption and the command will have to continue with the campaign.  For Lagos State Command, we want to continue to improve on our ratings when it comes to corruption and we believe that if we do this, other agencies will do the same.  We will be engaging with the public more to make them understand the need to use the electronic format. We are working with both the Independent Corrupt Practises Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” he said.

  • NIS issues 6,097 passports in Edo

    The Edo Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said it issued 6,097 international passports to applicants in the first quarter of 2019.

    The Comptroller of NIS in the state, Mr Kayode Eniolorunda, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Saturday.

    Eniolorunda added that the command also issued 275 ECOWAS Travel Certificates and 12 Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC) within the period.

    According to the comptroller, the command recorded one Regularisation of Stay and Regularisation of Migration with four arrivals and four departures in the quarter.

    He told NAN that the command had continued to witness tremendous growth and improvement in its responsibilities with direct bearing on the citizens of the state.

    READ ALSO: Dokpesi in face-off with Immigration over passport

    He stated that at the moment, it takes only 48 hours to process and produce international passports.

    According to him, this has led to a significant improvement in passport application.

    Eniolorunda added that the fight against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (SoM) had excelled due to the effective collaboration of the command’s irregular migration section and other stakeholders.

    He said that the command had observed the presence of unskilled artisans in some strategic areas within the state capital, especially around the various by-passes leading in and out of the state capital.

    He explained that the command was currently working closely with the Edo Government to redress the situation before it became a menace.

  • Elections: FG closes borders tomorrow

    The Federal Government has announced the closure of all Nigerian land borders with effect from 12:00 noon on Friday, February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday, February 24, 2019.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdrahman Dambazau who gave the order said the development is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days.

    Read Also: FG grants visa free waiver for accredited election observers

    According to a statement issued by the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede and made available to The Nation: “Further to the Presidential Election taking place on the February, 23, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior has directed the closure of all Nigeria Land Borders with effect from 12:00 noon of Friday February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday February 24, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

  • FG grants visa free waiver for accredited election observers

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) on Thursday approved a visa-free waiver for foreign accredited election observers and monitors.

    The development according to government is due to the rescheduling of the 2019 general elections.

    In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Comptroller General (CG), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election are advised to visit Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters.

    The minister emphasised that no fee is to be paid for the process.

    The statement reads in part: ” Sequel the rescheduling of the 2019 general elections to 23rd February and 9th March 2019 and considering the plight of accredited election observers and monitors who were caught-up by the re-scheduled election the Honorable Minister of Interior Lt Gen (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau CFR Phd has approved a visa fee waiver.

    “All affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election are advised to visit Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the INEC Headquarters.

    “The desk Officers will attend to those requiring extension of their visa issued Gratis (No Fee Charge). This provision became necessary to afford those affected the opportunity to travel out or return without violating the Immigration provisions that relate to entry and exit with valid visa and document. 5All the affected Election Observers and Monitors are to take advantage and note.”

  • Immigration to foreigners: vote and go to jail

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has reiterated its warning to foreign nationals to keep off voting areas during elections or face prosecution, deportation.

    King Ekpedeme, the head of the service in Lagos gave the warning during a phone chat with our Correspondent on Friday.

    He said that the NIS had in the past five months engaged leaders of foreign nationals especially those from the Economic Community of West and Central African States (ECOWAS), (ECCAS) to speak to their people on the need to stay out of Nigeria’s elections.

    Ekpedeme also said the service had retrieved several Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) from none Nigerians, adding that it has emplaced mechanisms to forestall foreigners from taking part in the exercise.

    He said: “Lagosians should not be worried about the possibility of foreign nationals voting in this election.

    Already, the borders have been closed today and the NIS had been retrieving PVCs from non-Nigerians.

    “Also, we have had several engagements with the leaders of our brothers from neighbouring countries who have spoken to their nationals and assured us they will not come out in election.

    “We have also made it clear that anyone found will be prosecuted and afterwards deported to their country. I want to believe that the message has been well received by them. This election is for Nigerians only and none Nigerians should stay in their homes.“

  • Army seeks collaboration with security agencies to tackle insurgency

     The Nigerian Army has called for closer collaboration with security agencies in Borno, to facilitate successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, quoted Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, as making the call at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

    According to the statement Biu called for synergy and cooperation towards evolving new strategies in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other sundry crimes.

    Biu stressed the need for routine interaction between stakeholders with a view to strengthen cooperation, intelligent and information sharing among them.

    Read Also:Missing General: Army clarifies rumour on military operations

    While commending the agencies for discharging their duties effectively, Biu called for proactive measures to review strategies to meet the security challenges occasioned by the political transition period.

    Biu reminded the agencies of the need to be proactive so as not to allow breach of peace and checkmate unholy political gatherings.

    The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Chukwu, Comptroller of Customs, AB Abdullahi, and the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ibrahim Abdullahi.

    Others were Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ijafaru Bukar, and Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Abdulfattah Adamu, among others.

  • More Visa on arrival counters for MMIA

    Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service ( NIS), Mr Mohammed Bandede, has granted approval for more space for Visa On Arrival counters of the service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command.

    At the moment, NIS has two Visa on Arrival counters at the D and E wings of the airport.

    The move to increase the counters was sequel to available space, that would make it conducive for foreigners seeking visas on arrival into the country.

    Investigations reveal that Visa on Arrival counters at the two wings of the Lagos International Airport, could only accommodate about 30 passengers. The new arrangement scheduled to take effect in a few  weeks, will provide more space for processing of passengers and significantly increase turnaround time.

    A source in the immigration service said apart from creating a more conducive environment for travellers, it would also shore up the image of the country in the international community. The source attributed the decision to the “ease-of-doing-business” policy of the Federal Government, which came on board on June last year.

    He explained that immigration was one of the government agencies that benefited from the policy, saying that the command now has more foreigners coming into the country and are issued visas on arrival with ease unlike in the past when they went through rigours to obtain visas.

    The source said: “We need to improve on our image and ways of doing things in the country. Since the ease-of-doing-business policy of the Federal Government came onboard about a year ago, immigration has benefited immensely from the scheme. We now have more travelers either in business or tourism that visit the country.

    It would be recalled that the NIS Airport Command, about a month ago, said it had issued at least 12, 000 visas to foreigners entering Nigeria through the airport in the past six months.

    The Nation gathered that weekly, the NIS issues at least 500 visas to foreigners on arrival through the command while it goes as high as 1,000 visas in some weeks.

  • Immigration boss approves expansion of visa on arrival counters

    Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Mr. Mohammed Bandede has given approval for the expansion of Visa On Arrival counters of the service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport( MMIA), Lagos Command.

    Currently, NIS has two Visa on Arrival counters at the D and E wings of the airport.

    The move to increase the counters was sequel to available space, that would make it conducive for foreigners seeking visas on arrival into the country.

    Investigations reveal that Visa on Arrival counters at the two wings of the Lagos International Airport, could only accommodate about 30 passengers.

    The new arrangement scheduled to take effect in a few  weeks, will now provide more space for processing of passengers and significantly increase turn around time.

    A source close to immigration in Abuja yesterday told our correspondent that with the expansion of the counters, no fewer than 100 foreigners requiring visas on arrival in the country would be attended to from each wings of the airport simultaneously.

    The source said that apart from creating a more conducive environment for travellers, it would also shore up the image of the country in the international community.

    The immigration source also attributed the expansion to the ease-of-doing-business policy of the Federal Government, which came onboard June last year.

    Read Also: Immigration arrests illegal immigrants heading for Ekiti

    He explained that immigration was one of the government agencies that benefited most from the policy, saying that the command now has more foreigners coming into the country and are issued visas on arrival with ease unlike in the past when they went through rigours to obtain visas.

    The source said: “We need to improve on our image and ways of doing things in the country. Since the ease-of-doing-business policy of the Federal Government came onboard about a year ago, immigration has benefited immensely from the scheme. We now have more travelers either in business or tourism that visit the country.

    “The expansion of the visa-on-arrival counters will further improve our relationship with passengers. at it is, when two flights land simultaneously, the passengers are unnecessarily delayed at the airport, but once it is expanded, passengers would spend less time with us and be more comfortable.

    It would be recalled that the airport command about a month ago said that it had issued at least 12, 000 visas to foreigners entering Nigeria through the airport in the past six months.

    A source close to the service in Abuja had told our correspondent that on a weekly basis, the command issues at least 500 visas to foreigners on arrival through the command while it goes as high as 1,000 visas in some weeks.

  • Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, has reassured Federal Government’s commitment to return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Onyeama gave the assurance when he received 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya at Port Harcourt International Airport, alongside Rivers Government officials.

    The minister said there were stories of exploitation and suffering by stranded Nigerians in Libya, which compelled Federal Government to act decisively.

    He added that “we made it clear to the Libyan Government that we want to see all Nigerians there. We insisted that we should see all of them, instead of hearing from them.

    “We made it clear that they ( Libyans ) are signatories to international conventions and we expected them to have control of those who guard our children.

    “They cooperated with us because of respect for Mr President, there were people who were making money from these children and did not want them to return home.

    “We carried out rigorous outreach to ensure that we have everybody back.”

    The minister noted that the programme was a continuous process that would return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The minister explained that “the Libyan Government got the message that as far as they are Nigerians, we have zero tolerance for molestation.”

    The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Sir Kenneth Kobani, who led the state delegation, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making efforts in returning the stranded Nigerians.

    He said “as a state government, we had no choice really, let me say that the Rivers State Governor made it clear to me that  we should  do everything possible to make sure that this exercise was handled smoothly.

    “The  Rivers State Government would do everything in its power to assist federal agencies handling this programme, because above everything else, we are all Nigerians and this programme is a clear indication that when we work together, we can achieve anything.

    “What you are seeing here today clearly shows that our governor and indeed the President feel same about this issue.

    “On behalf of the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, I will like to thank President Muhammadu  Buhari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team who worked tirelessly to make the return of our brothers and sisters successful.”

    Reports say that all the returnees were profiled at designated booths at the airport.

    The minister was accompanied by officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service, NEMA NAPTIP and military personnel.

    NAN

  • Another 257 Nigerians arrive from Libya

    Another 257 Nigerians arrive from Libya

    A few hours after 144 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya, another aircraft carrying 257 of their compatriots on Wednesday landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The spokesperson for the Lagos Airport Police Command, Mr Joseph Alabi, confirmed this in an interview in Lagos.

    Alabi said the returnees arrived aboard a Libyan Airlines aircraft at the Cargo Wing of the airport at about 1.30 a.m.

    He said they were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) and the European Union ( EU ) after being stranded in the volatile North African country enroute Europe.

    Alabi said “We received another batch of Nigerians early this morning from Libya.

    “They comprised of 65 adult females, 179 adult males, seven children and six infants.”

    He also confirmed that four of the returnees had medical cases and were promptly taken away on an ambulance for treatment.

    According to him, the returnees were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

    Report says another set of 144 Nigerians had arrived on Tuesday at about 6.45 p.m. aboard a chartered Buraq Airlines aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG.

    They were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by the Wife of the President, Haija Aisha Buhari, represented by the Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode.

    Also on ground to receive them was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa and officials of other government agencies.

    Report also says the Federal Government said it has a record of 2,778 Nigerian migrants registered in “accessible” detention camps in Libya, ready for repatriation.

    The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement signed by the Spokesperson, Mr. Tiwatope Elias-Fatile on Tuesday, said the country’s embassy in Libya had been visiting detention camps to identify Nigerians for registration.

    The ministry stated that those registered were issued Emergency Travel Certificates.

    Read also: More Nigerians return from Libya

    The ministry also explained that the embassy, in collaboration with the IOM, repatriates 250 migrants weekly and had returned 3,000 of them so far.

    “From the 2,778 registered Nigerians who are still in detention camps, another set of 250 Nigerian migrants will be arriving on Tuesday December 5 via the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, at 7.00pm, to be received by NEMA officials.

    “The Embassy, in collaboration with the IOM, repatriates 250 Nigerian migrants by flight to Lagos weekly – each flight can accommodate only 250 passengers.

    “The repatriation is a continuous exercise and the Embassy routinely issues the requisite travel documents to the migrants.

    “The Embassy will continue to engage the legitimate government in Libya and other stakeholders in addressing the plight of Nigerian migrants in that country.”

    The ministry further said the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, had invited the Nigerian Embassy’s Head of Mission, Mr. Iliya Fachano, to Abuja for consultations.

    “He is in Abuja already and during the period of the consultations, arrangements have been made for him to address press conferences on the issue.

    NAN