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Tag: NIS

  • NIS backs law on building collapse

    THE Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has thrown its weight  behind the law making building collapse an offence, its National President Charles Alabo, has said.

    Alabo spoke at the institute’s investiture in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    He said this would ensure the right materials and expertise were used.

    He said henceforth, the institute would monitor building construction.

    Read also: Surveyor petitions police over breach of contract

    Such checks, he said, would help to curb the menace of frequent building collapse. “When a building collapses, they would include surveyors; we can only test the loamy soil. We are not the geo-technical engineers, it does not concerns us. Where I think we should come in is the monitoring aspect of it. We are going to urge the National Assembly to pass the law  on building monitoring,” he said.

    Alabo exonerated surveyors from the incidents because they were not responsible for materials used in construction.

    However, he pointed out that if the monitoring bill is passed, it will become the responsibility of the surveyors to monitor the construction of building from its sand texture level to its completion.

    The new fellows are Gertrude Njar, Dupe Olayinka, Solomon Olukotun, Babatunde Oluwasunkanmi and O. B. Ogunlami.

  • Army trains NSCDC, NIS, others on military operations

    Sixtty-seven security operatives from the Nigerian Army (NA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been trained on how to plan and execute

    Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW).

    The participants comprising 58 from the Army, two each from NIS, DSS and NCS and three from NSCDC were of the ranks of Major and Lieutenants and drawn from Lagos and Ogun States.

    They underwent a five-day intensive training at the instance of the 81 Division Nigerian Army, aimed at improving operations estimate planning and skills, military decision-making process, interagency cooperation and himan rights obligations for counterterrorism operations.

    Commending the participants for the efforts they put in their submissions, Commandant Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC)  Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abubakar-Sadick Liman said he was optimistic they have acquired beneficial knowledge that would spur them for better performance.

    Read also: Army seeks exemption from budget envelope allocation system

    Liman who was the Special Guest at the event noted that the officers’ knowledge was broadened on intelligence gathering as a tool for successful conduct of military operations, logistics planning in MOOTW and social media, among others.

    “I am therefore convinced that these topics were carefully selected for the cadre, in fulfillment of the Army Headquarters’ and the Division’s Training Directives. This is bearing in mind the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS’) vision.

    “Let me also quickly point out here that as middle/junior commanders and staff officers, this cadre experience will come handy in your various courses, either in your service/organisation or courses at Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC). It will equally be beneficial in command and staff roles while carrying out your professional military duties,” he said.

    Speaking to reporters after the event, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf said the training was a directive from the COAS Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and held simultaneously across all army divisions.

    “Training like this is done in order to improve the professional efficiency of our officers and soldiers. It is to make our officers better professionals in the discharge of their duty, be it in peace time or in operational areas.”

    Asked why the police were not part of the training, the GOC said an invitation was extended to the police.

    “All security agencies were invited because the MOOTW is internal operation and we are all aware that the police is the lead agency in internal security operations. We all have our respective roles to play.

    “But in the next training, we will ensure that we get across to them aside sending letter so that they can be present. The training is supposed to be every quarter by the directive from Army headquarters but at the division’s level, we are trying to do it more than once a quarter,” he said.

     

  • ‘Big men’ must go through security checks at airports, Immigration boss declares

    The Comptroller General (CG) Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede on Tuesday lamented many politicians pass through borders without security checks by immigration officers.

    Muhammad, who expressed sadness over the development, cautioned those involved in the act to desist or face the law.

    He spoke in Abuja at the official decoration ceremony of 14 newly promoted Assistant Comptroller’s General (ASG’s).

    The immigration boss also vowed to deal with any immigration officer who assists any politician to avoid security checks.

    Muhammad advised the promoted ACG’s to ensure that they offer serious supervision, especially at the borders and Airports and ensure that the rule of law is adhered to.

    His words: “In recent time, some politicians and big men think they can pass through borders without passing through immigration officers.

    “It is an offence under the Act, we are committed. You are liable to punishment regardless of whoever you are.

    “You and the officer involved will be prosecuted because officers don’t have immunity because it is a law that a person must present himself and pass through immigration.

    “Even if an aircraft does an emergency landing and lands in a place other than recognised spot, let’s say an aircraft mistakenly lands in Illorin because of emergency it is the duty of the captain of the aircraft and the passengers to wait to be cleared by immigration officers, if you enter it is an offence.”

    He added: “Talk less of you come to Aminu Kano Airport, or Murtala Muhammed Airport or Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and then work together with officers and cross the border without presenting yourself when departing or entering Nigeria it is an offence.

    “We will punish such persons. The last warming I want to give you and ensure you supervise very well is the issue of travel documents. We find out that Immigration officers are becoming brokers.

    “We cannot allow that, you cannot be a regulator and a broker at the same time it’s not possible.

    “For the avoidance of doubt we have an officer who is being prosecuted somebody came to get a passport the person said he lost his passport that officer was the one who got an affidavit for him, went to court together with the person.

    “All persons who lied and declared their passports missing we have started arresting, in the last few months we have arrested as many as 15.

    “If you lose your passport and later find it, return it to Immigration to cancel it. Any passport lost and you decide to use it at the border we will arrest you and prosecute you for false declaration.”

  • Dokpesi in face-off with Immigration over passport

    Media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, is having a face-off with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) over alleged moves by the NIS to impound his Nigerian Passport.

    Dokpesi, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, narrated how he has been subjected to harassment and intimidation by the NIS since his arrival from Dubai where he had gone for medical treatment.

    According to him, his ordeal started at the Abuja Airport, shortly after arrival on Friday when where some NIS officials “arrested and detained” him for about 55 minutes for no just cause.

    “I was told that they have instructions from above to arrest me on my return but after a few phone calls and contacts, the Immigration officer at the Airport told me that he had instructions from above that I could leave and he gave me back my passport and told me that I should go and that they will reach me subsequently,” he said.

    Dokpesi, who is facing trial over alleged N2.1 billion arms deal scam, said with the leave of the Federal High Court, he retrieved his passport from the Court Registrar through a judicial process to enable him travel for treatment.

    According to him, he returned the passport to the court on Monday, in line with the condition upon which the document was released to him by the court. The court had seized his passport in the course of the trial.

    Chief Dokpesi, however, said the NIS invited him to the headquarters on Thursday and was taken to the Interrogation Room of the Comptroller General where he was grilled for about two hours.

    On what transpired during his interrogation, Dokpesi said: “They asked for my passport and I replied that I have since returned it to the Federal High Court and I availed them documents showing the court had acknowledged receiving the passport from me.

    “But the officers who interrogated me said that they had expected me to go back to the Federal High Court and get back the passport with the letter of invitation they (NIS) sent to me. But I told them that I totally defer from that line of thought.

    “I told them that if they had instruction from above requiring my passport, then they should write directly to the Federal High Court and request for the passport.

    “They were telling me that the passport was a property of the Federal Government and that the Federal Government has a right to withdraw it at any time.

    “But I am also a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and there is a judicial process, there is a rule of law. Why should we not go through the judicial process and be able to define what is required”.

    Read also: Alleged N2.1b fraud: You have case to answer, court tells Dokpesi

    The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Mr. Sunday James confirmed that the Service indeed invited Chief Dokpesi for “official related issues” but declined to give details.

    James said: “Mr. Dokpesi is a high-profile individual so until we are able to finish the issues we are looking at, we can’t disclose them. Immigration is just doing its official assignment and when it is due for the public to know the outcome, they will know”.

    The NIS spokesman however said the Service would not act in any way as to undermine the human rights of any citizen neither will it undermine the standard of practice.

    He however said the NIS would invite Chief Dokpesi for interrogation again if there was need to do so.

  • How to end building collapse, by experts

    Professionals and other stakeholders in the building industry have called for the collaboration of all in the built sector.

    They said: “All of us and related government agencies should be involved in putting up buildings to prevent collapse in Lagos State.”

    They spoke yesterday at a one-day public hearing on the collapsed building at 63, Massey Street, Ita-Faji, Lagos. It was organised by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The seven institutes in the industry and some government agencies were represented.

    Read also: Buildings collapse: Buhari vows to punish offenders

    They include Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA); Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB); Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE); Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP); Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV); Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) and Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS).

    The professionals said most of the collapsed buildings were handled by quacks, who used substandard materials, without the involvement of the government agencies.

    The stakeholders called for synergy professionals, the government agencies, and owners or developers, to ensure that right things were done before, during and after construction, to end building collapse.

     

  • Immigration deports four Ghanaians

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has carried out a deportation Order as authorised by the Minister of Interior in respect of four (4) Ghanaian Nationals for violating various provisions of the Immigration Act and Regulations.

    This is in line with the powers vested on the Minister of Interior in Section 45(1) and (2) of the Immigration Act 2015.

    According to a statement on Friday in Abuja by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James: “The Order which was issued in the interest of the Public affects three males and a female.

    Read Also: Ogun produced highest tonnes of solid minerals in 2018 – NBS

    “They are:

    i. Florence Donkur (F)

    ii. Simon Gyan (M)

    iii. Yeboah Collins (M)

    iv. Alhaji Isa (M)

    “They were deported to their country of origin via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja today 22nd March, 2019 by 0900 hrs.

    “The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, uses this medium to reaffirm the commitment of the Service to enforce relevant laws whenever the need arises while encouraging regular migrants in the country to be law abiding.“

  • NAPTIP, NIS partner against human trafficking

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have partnered against human trafficking.

    The two agencies have engaged in a joint action against human trafficking and illegal migrants, to stem the tide of the crimes.

    The action was the climax of recent strategic engagements between NAPTIP and NIS personnel, aimed at getting to the root of the problems of human trafficking and illegal migrants and how the two organisations can pull resources together to fight criminals.

    Read also: Hamzat unveils infrastructural plans for Lagos

    NIS Comptroller-General Muhammad Babandede, who chaired the event with the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said about 99 per cent of migrants work in Europe.

  • 2019: NIS retrieves more than 700 voter cards from non-Nigerians —Comptroller-General

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said yesterday that it had retrieved more than 700 voter cards from non-Nigerians living in the country.

    Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, said  at the 2018 NIS award presentation in Abuja that  the service is fully involved in the election process to ensure that no foreigner votes  during the 2019 general elections.

    His words: “We will be there during elections to ensure that non-Nigerians don’t participate.

    “We will make sure that they don’t vote and they are not voted for.

    “During the election, we will ensure the borders are secured so that nobody can enter the country during the days of election. “Immigration service has changed for the better.

    “We have built the capacity of personnel and improved on structures and contributed to Nigeria’s security and prosperity in many ways.”

    He added that such areas include  the Ease of Doing Business whereby the service has assisted businessmen to get visas as quickly as possible without hurdles.

    “We have trained so many officers. There has never been a time Nigeria Immigration Service has gotten better structures than now.

    “The approval of the technology building worth N7.1 billion by President Muhammadu  Buhari will serve all law enforcement agencies where we will share such information online with partners.”

    He thanked President Buhari for approving the unique project for the NIS.

    He said: “We became independent in 1963. Since that time, we have not gotten a centre to coordinate all our operations until this year when the President approved the technology building.

    “Julius Berger has already started work on the site. It was launched by the Minister of Interior last week.”

  • Security: Immigration graduates top officers, others from training institutions

    In a bid to enhance capacity building of personnel for Command and Control, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has graduated 63 senior Officers of the Command Course 9.  

    The training was organized by the Immigration Command and Staff College, (ICSC) Sokoto for senior Officers of the ranks of Comptrollers of Immigration Service (CIS), Deputy Comptrollers (DCI) and Assistant Comptrollers, (ACI).

    According to a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, the breakdown of participants of the Course include 5 Comptrollers (CIS’), 56 Deputy Comptrollers (DCIs) and 2 Assistant Comptrollers of Immigration (ACIs).

    “A total of 1,477 personnel graduated from the 22nd Inspectorate Basic Course at the Nigeria Immigration Training School Orlu, (NITSOL) and 21st pre-basic course at Nigeria Immigration Training School, Ahoada (NITSA) on the 25th and 27th September, 2018 respectively”.

    “A breakdown of the Personnel who had their Passing out Parade (POP) at NITSOL include a total of 820 personnel comprising 181 Senior Inspectors of Immigration (SII) and 639 Assistant Inspectors of Immigration (AI)”.

    “Similarly, at NITSA, a total of 657 personnel graduated in the Assistant Cadre and they include 5 Chief Immigration Assistant (CIA), 5 Senior Immigration Assistants (SIA), 34 Immigration Assistants 1 (IA1), 9 Immigration Assistants (IA22) and 604 Immigration Assistant 3 (IA3)

    “The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede MFR congratulated the graduands and called on them to exude a high level of discipline while demonstrating their skills and competences in service to their father land.”

  • ‘81,003 foreign nationals resident in Nigeria’

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Friday said it recorded 81,003 non-ECOWAS foreign nationals legally resident in the country as at Aug. 31.

    NIS Comptroller General, Mr Muhammad Babandede, made this known in a statement signed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Sunday James, in Abuja.

    A breakdown of the figure, according to Babandede, shows that 2,694 were Americans, 3,946 Britons, 17,995 Chinese, 31,660 Indians, 6,295 Lebanese and 1,295 Germans.

    He stated that there were 17,118 foreign nationals from 92 other countries resident in Nigeria.

    Babandede also disclosed that the NIS issued 82,084 Visas on Arrival (VoA) at six international airports and 7,570 Temporary Work Permits (TWPs) in the country within the period.

    Giving a breakdown of the TWP figure, he said 1,492 were issued to Indians, 1,171 to Chinese and 987 to Britons.

    He said 1,006 TWPs were issued to South Africans, 641 to Italians, 649 to Ukrainians and the remaining 1,624 to other foreign nationals.

    The NIS boss said that in line with its mandate as enshrined in Section 2 (a) – (f) of the Immigration Act 2015, the agency would henceforth be giving a quarterly report of migrants resident in Nigeria.

    He restated the the agency’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders in addition to effective discharge of its administrative and operational duties.

    In doing these, Babandede said the NIS would remain guided by international best practices and respect for the rights of migrants without compromising national security.(NAN)