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Tag: NIS

  • Emotional farewell in Port Harcourt as Deputy Comptroller Umar bows out of NIS

    Emotional farewell in Port Harcourt as Deputy Comptroller Umar bows out of NIS

    Last Friday was a day to say goodbye for Alhaji Umar Ningi, a Deputy Comptroller, who retired from Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    He fought back tears as he appreciated officers and friends who gathered to celebrate his exit from the service.

    Ningi said: “It is not about retiring but how I am going to miss you, especially your attitudes towards me which have made me to feel so much important today; you have surprised me.”

    Ningi, who was in charge of Human Resource Management at the Rivers State Immigration Command from 2014 till his retirement, said his relationship with his colleagues everywhere he was posted had always stood him out.

    “I joined the service in 1980 as an Assistant Superintendent.  I am very strong and healthy today even as I am retiring. To show you that I am very strong, the last time I traveled from Port Harcourt to Gombe State, I drove myself and I got to my state, Gombe, a very long journey by 5pm. There is nothing I cannot do as far as I am concerned. That is why I am very happy that God has given me good health.

    “I have served in 11 states out of 36, including the Federal Capital. I am delighted that in all the areas I served, I tried my best to ensure that I delivered. Sometimes the success comes with the help of intelligent officers that worked around me. That is why in Port Harcourt command, when I took over things was in shambles, but I told myself that it was time to put things in a right perspective and that is what I did and I am proud that officers can appreciate it even as I leave the service.

    “I am going to miss all the officers that worked with me, including the Comptroller of Rivers Command, who showed so much love and encouragement to me and other officers working under him.  I will continue to be grateful to God and all of those who have made my task easy while in service which led to so many results we have achieved.”

    The Comptroller, Rivers State immigration command, Mr Mike Longe, a lawyer, said Umar had paid his dues in the service as a diligent officer. He said Umar would be missed by his colleagues and the entire command.

    “Umar is an officer that was posted to work with me here, and I find in him a complete officer and gentle man. He is somebody who is humble and ready to learn to improve situation.  He is a level-headed gentle man. To a very large extent, he is very eager to not only get assignment but to get it done.  In fact, I must say that he is a born leader; he is an embodiment of what we think officers should do, especially in this era where things don’t go the way one expects them to go. But I know coming to this command he imparted greatly, especially in the human resource management where he was in change. As you see him, he is very strong retiring and not tired. I know that God will prepare a table before him.

    “I will say officers should follow his footstep and not see retirement as something negative; he went about his work diligently and calmly. If it is an era where people would be re-appointed on contract I think I will recommend Alhaji Umar to be re-absorbed with contract because he has those sterling qualities. If you see him, you would not know that he is the husband of a Permanent Secretary in his state.”

  • NIS petitions IG over killing of surveyor in Bayelsa

    The Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS), Bayelsa state chapter, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police( IGP) over the gruesome murder of its member, Mr Kolou Eddi and attempted murder of Mr. Naboth Alaigha by suspected thugs from Okutukutu community.

    NIS said it was fed up with the “negligence and complacency” of the Bayelsa state Police command on the matter.

    On May 21, Eddi and Alazigha went to a disputed land to demarcate boundary between Opolo and Okutukutu communities in line with a Supreme Court judgment in favour of Opolo community.

    But angry youths from Okutukutu community stormed the land, killed Eddi and inflicted serious injuries on Alazigha.

    The police team deployed to escort the surveyors neither stopped the attack nor arrested persons behind the dastardly act.

    Few days after the incident, the police were said to have arrested some suspects and kept telling anxious families of the deceased and the injured Alazigha that they were still conducting investigations.

    Irked by the development, NIS wrote a letter through its lawyers U. Saiyou and co to the IGP demanding his urgent intervention.

    In the letter signed by Amaebi Clarkson, NIS said that 65 armed policemen were mobilized to site for the singular purpose of marking the clear boundaries of the survey plan.

    It lamented that throughout the “ferocious attack” on the duo which lasted for over 20 minutes, the police team “detailed to protect the survey team would not do any significant thing even when they saw messers Kolou Robert Eddi and Naboth Alazigha being hacked down by severe machete cuts from the attackers.

    The NIS said it was bitter that the police could not make any arrest on the spot and days after the incident failed to show seriousness on the matter.

    It expressed disappointment in the conduct of investigations by the Bayelsa State Police command and called on the IGP to take over the case.

    The petition said in part: “Our client have instructed us to inform you that the lukewarm attitude and conduct of the Police that led to the death of their colleague is not acceptable and they are not impressed by the slow pace of investigation of the matter by the Bayelsa State Police command.

    “We are mandated to demand that you urgently take over the investigation of the matter with a view to timeously bring the culprits to book. The timely arrest of the perpetrators of this brutal attack will serve as deterrent and curb the incessant attack on Surveyors on legitimate professional duties”.

    But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Asinim Butswat who said he was not aware of the petition.

    He explained that a murder case was not what the police would rush investigations.

    He assured all the parties that the command had not abandoned the case, adding that all the persons involved in the circumstances surrounding the incident would be brought to book.

  • NIS Recruitment: Applicants to undergo CBT

    NIS Recruitment: Applicants to undergo CBT

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said Computer-Based Test (CBT) would be used to conduct examinations for applicants of the 2015 recruitment into the service.

    Mr. Chukwuemeka Obua, the Public Relations Officer of the service, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Obua said this was to prevent a reoccurrence of the 2014 recruitment where a stampede was recorded at various centres across the country due to large crowd of applicants.

    He said the CBT would also be used to conduct the examination in order to test the computer literacy level of applicants.

    He said this was a basic requirement for employment into the service.

    “ This is the process that will be adopted for the recruitment in order to prevent the reoccurrence of the past incident. Four or five computer centres will be designated in each state of the federation.

    “ Applicants will be divided according to these centres and they will be communicated online individually the date they are required to sit for the examination and the location in order to prevent over-crowding in centres and cases of non-applicants in attendance,” he said.

    The spokesman said the CBT was a global trend accepted and used worldwide to conduct examinations.

    He said the device was chosen to prevent the rigours associated with paper-based examinations.

    He said that applicants would not be required to bring any writing materials; rather, they would only need their password which was the registration number to log into the computer, answer the test and submit online.

    Obua said after the test, successful applicants would be contacted individually and asked to report to designated immigration offices across the country where they would be further examined.

    “ At this stage, we will do the physical examination to check the height, presence of any physical disabilities and general state of health of applicants to ensure that they are fit to carry out their duties when employed.

    “  Documents of applicants will also be reviewed during the examination after which successful candidates will be contacted online informing them of their acceptance into the service,” he said.

    NAN reports that applications for recruitment into the NIS which commenced on Feb. 9 closed on March 22.

  • BREAKING! Nigeria prepares for poll, shuts border

    BREAKING! Nigeria prepares for poll, shuts border

    As Nigeria rounds up all plans for the forth coming general elections, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Comrade Abba Moro, has directed that all sea and land borders be closed.

    The directive, which was made available in a statement by the ministry, stated the borders should be closed from 12 midnight of Wednesday 25 of March till 12 midnight Saturday 28 or March, when the presidential election would have been concluded.

    Abubakar Magaji, Permanent Secretary to the interior minister, who signed the release, noted that the closure of the borders is necessary ‘to allow for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming national elections’.

    The Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) was also directed to ensure that foreigners do not participate in any part of the election process.

  • NIS deports 201 illegal immigrants from Niger – Official

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said on Sunday in Minna, that it repatriated 201 illegal immigrants in Niger from February to March.

    Mr Ezekiel Kaura, the Comptroller of Immigration in the state, stated this when he addressed newsmen.

    According to him, the repatriation will assist the government to flush out potential trouble makers in the state.

    “We are doing some mop up of illegal immigrants in the state because of the elections that is about to take place.

    “There is need to get rid of these illegal ones in our midst so that they do not become ready for some persons who may use them to cause havoc during and after the elections.

    He said the command deported 107 illegal immigrants in February, adding that another batch of 65 non-Nigerians were apprehended in March, bringing the number to 172.

    “ We are expecting another 29 illegal immigrants from Kotangora area of the state. So, at the end of the day, we have 201.”

    Kaura said that NIS would continue to get rid of illegal immigrants in the country in line with the policy of the Federal Government.

  • Laughing at the dead

    Laughing at the dead

    •Without firing Moro and Paradang, a new immigration recruitment exercise lacks moral example

    Once again, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is in the process of recruiting to boost the organisation’s capacity to patrol our borders. This ordinarily should be cheery news to the numerous graduates roaming the streets in search of jobs. But we doubt if it would, given the sad incidents of last year in which no fewer than 18 applicants died in various recruitment centres while waiting to take the test into the service. Many others were injured.

    That was precisely on March 15, 2014. So, in about two weeks, it would be one year since the tragic incidents. To date, nothing has happened to show that the government regretted the unfortunate deaths of the youths who died in the course of looking for their daily bread beyond the usual immediate lamentation by government officials who promised heaven on earth when the incident was still fresh and Nigerians were seething with rage. How many of the promises have the Federal Government fulfilled? What investigation did the government conduct into the incidents and what are its findings?  Moreover, who has been punished for the negligence or incompetence that caused the tragedy?

    It is against this backdrop that we view with suspicion, the report that the government had set up a committee to oversee the ongoing recruitment into the NIS, when the incidents of last year remained an unfinished business. We are worried because the Federal Government had consistently proved that it lacked the capacity to punish where some of its own are concerned, no matter the crime committed.

    When the jobless youths died last year, Mr. Abba Moro was the Minister of Interior just as Mr. David Paradang was the Comptroller-General of NIS. Both men, regrettably, still sit pretty in office today, about one year after fellow compatriots died as a result of bad planning that led to shoddy handling of the interviews. We wonder how the government wants the relatives of the dead to feel seeing that no one was punished for the loss of their dear ones. It is like mocking the bereaved.

    Interestingly, it is the same Mr. Paradang who is urging young Nigerian graduates to take keen interest in the service. The NIS comptroller-general said in Abuja during a visit to him by the Africa Youth Patriotic and Development Mission, led by its Executive Director, Mr. Adefila Kamal, that “Nigerian graduates interested in the NIS job should take advantage of the new recruitment exercise because the NIS would ensure that the new recruitment is fair and credible.

    According to him, “Nigerian youths are needed to patrol the country’s borders and hence the need to recruit capable hands into the service. Nigerian graduates should have faith in the ongoing recruitment into the NIS; a committee has been set up to oversee the exercise for credibility sake.”

    The committee should not only ensure the credibility of the exercise; it should also look into the safety of the applicants. It is not reassuring enough that the government had set up a committee to oversee the process; what is important is the rigour that goes into the exercise. We are happy that Mr. Paradang himself appreciated the deficiencies in the last recruitment as this was evident in his statements during the visit of the youth body to his office.

    The point ought to be made that while a genuine recruitment of job seekers is desirable, it does not make any moral sense that Moro and Padarang should preside. It only forgives a sinner who has not repented. It is cynical, and a bad precedent for wrongdoing in office, and it is like rewarding the bereaved with compensating efficiency. That undermines the values that firing them would have added to public service in Nigeria. It comes across as desperate political move.

  • Immigration intercepts bus carrying 42 illegal aliens

    Immigration intercepts bus carrying 42 illegal aliens

    The Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Abia State, Mrs. Augustina Ifeoma Opara, has urged luxury bus drivers to be conscious of the passengers they carry.

    She said they should be mindful of their passengers, to avoid embarrassment, adding that upon checking 112 passengers in a vehicle, it was discovered that 42 were foreigners and only a few had valid documents.

    The Immigration chief said the insecurity in the country called for vigilance, adding that the coming elections made it necessary for people to be vigilant.

    Speaking in Umuahia, she said most of the passengers in the luxury bus registered as Lagos XT 286 LSD, intercepted on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, did not have valid travel documents.

    Mrs. Opara said the travellers were in a bus meant for 52 passengers.

    The comptroller of Immigration said the command was determined to ensure that foreigners did not constitute a nuisance.

    She said it conducted sensitisation programmes to educate people at the border communities on the need to observe strangers in their midst and report to the authorities for action.

    Mrs. Opara said: “The programme we organised for the indigenes and those at the border communities made us to ascertain the identities of those travelling in that bus from Kano to Port Harcourt.”

    She said after investigations, the foreigners without valid travel documents would be repatriated, while those with valid documents would be allowed to continue their journey.

     

     

  • Before another NIS recruitment

    IR: March 15, 2014 will forever remain indelible in the history of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise which resulted in the death of 19 Nigerian youths while several were seriously injured.

    It is very disheartening and regretful that despite the payment of N1,000 from about 520,000 applicants who applied for the job last year, preparation for the exercise was shoddy.

    Meanwhile, in a desperate move to placate the affected victims, federal government promised each family of the dead victims three automatic jobs but the promise is yet to be fulfilled.

    Now, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out another recruitment exercise to be assisted by the presidential committee but the question is, how fully prepared is the coordinating body in order to avert loss of lives and casualties on the part of the applicants? With 520,000 applicants at the last exercise, it is a clear sign that government needs to take pivotal steps towards reducing the level of unemployment to barest minimum. It needs to do more empowerment programme for the less privileged youths who do not have access to higher education.

    We expect that the government should make adequate preparation this time around, put all logistics in order and provide a convivial atmosphere for the applicants to write interview exams instead of placing them under the hot sun.

     

    • Temitayo Taylor,

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

     

  • 2015 elections: Immigration deports 36 illegal immigrants in Edo

    Towards preventing illegal immigrants from participating in the forthcoming general election, the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Monday deported 36 illegal immigrants in the state.

    Those deported were screened out of about 300 immigrants arrested by the command during a mop up exercise.

    Others who showed genuine documents allowing them into the country were released but were warned against obtaining the Permanent Voters Cards or used as political thugs.

    In November last year, 40 illegal immigrants were deported from the state.

    Some of the immigrants said they were given fake papers to enter the country.

    The Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Alana Olusegun, who supervised the screening exercise, said the mop up was to ensure that non-Nigerians did not participate in the electoral process.

    Alana said officials of the command have been placed on red alert across the state to stop immigrants from voting during elections.

  • NIS seizes 452 PVCs, others from Nigeriens

    The Sokoto State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has said it seized 452 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), national identity cards and birth certificates from some nationals of Niger Republic in the last one year.

    State NIS Controller Yunusa Aliyu addressed reporters yesterday in Sokoto on the activities of the service.

    Aliyu explained that the 66 were PVCs, 33 temporary voter cards, and 271 and 69 old and new national identification cards.

    The rest of the seized documents included a local government identification card and 12 birth certificates.

    The NIS chief said all the documents were seized by the officers attached to the Tureta checkpoint on the Sokoto-Gusau Road.

    He said the national documents, which were supposed to be issued to bona fide Nigerians, were issued in other southern states.

    Aliyu said: “This is because it is extremely difficult there to differentiate between the Hausa from northern Nigeria and those from the neighbouring Niger Republic.”

    The NIS chief also said some officers attached to the border guards units under the command intercepted a stolen vehicle on the Tangaza-Balle Road in the state.

    He said: “The suspected car snatchers were stopped for a routine search by the officers but they refused to stop. They fled.

    “The officers pursued them and the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled, although no suspect was arrested.”

    Aliyu said the vehicle had been handed over to the state police command.

    He added: “The owner was in our command to claim the recovered vehicle, but he was referred to the police command for proper identification and claim.”