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Tag: foreigners

  • SAD commentary on Nig: SEE photos of ‘oyibo’, other foreigners doing Cybercrime ‘runs’

    SAD commentary on Nig: SEE photos of ‘oyibo’, other foreigners doing Cybercrime ‘runs’

    The Nigeria Police Force has nabbed 130 suspects comprising 113 foreign nationals (87 males and 26 females) for their alleged involvement in high-level cybercrimes,

    The hacking, and activities that threaten national security.

    The foreign nationals are primarily of Chinese and Malaysian origin. Seventeen (four males and three females) others were identified by the police as their Nigerian counterparts.

    ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, in a statement on Sunday, said, “This strategic operation was conducted through a coordinated raid on a building at the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja, where the suspects were reportedly using computers and other sophisticated devices to facilitate criminal activities.
    The operation which was led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, AIG Benneth Igweh, on Saturday, 3rd November 2024, comprised officers of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 7 Command Abuja and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC).

    We are investigating the matter and scientifically analysing the exhibits recovered from them. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of our investigations.”

    “We will update the public on the outcomes of our investigations as and when due,” he added.

  • Job Scam: Police rescue 50 stranded foreigners in Lagos camp

    Job Scam: Police rescue 50 stranded foreigners in Lagos camp

    About 50 foreigners have been rescued from a duplex on Omola Road, in the Edemola area of Epe, Lagos by  state police command.

    It was gathered that these foreigners are citizens of  some neighbouring African countries, with many of them being children.

    Findings show  that the rescued persons, all foreigners, were kept in the building by a gang of job scammers

    More findings at the Okeoyibo Police Division where the rescued persons were taken, revealed that they were from Cameroon and Gabon.

    Investigations, according to the police, indicated that they were deceived by the ring leaders of a Cameroonian job scam gang that there were job opportunities in Nigeria.

    The victims, as gathered, were discovered to have paid an unspecified amount to the fraudsters. Some of them reportedly told policemen that they sold their valuables, including houses, back home, to raise money for the journey to Nigeria, for the promised jobs.

    On arrival, they were reportedly kept in the duplex with a stern warning not to step outside, until they got the promised jobs.

    Some of them were discovered to have been in the building for six months.

    The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hudenyin, said the main suspect had fled to Cameroon, noting that 34 persons were rescued.

    “They are not kidnapped victims, they were deceived by some Cameroonians that there were jobs in Nigeria, only to be stranded because they have expended all their money. All of them have been taken to the police station.

    “The ring leader is on the run. He gave all of them the same arrival date and when they arrived, he collected their money from them, asked them to stay in that room and left with a promise to be back, only to abandon them and go back to Cameroon,” he stated.

  • Sad tales from Israel: Foreigners killed, missing or kidnapped in Hamas attack

    Sad tales from Israel: Foreigners killed, missing or kidnapped in Hamas attack

    Dozens of foreigners have been killed, injured or taken hostage during a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that has left 900 people dead in Israel.

    Many of the missing foreigners were at an electronic music festival in the southern Israeli desert, at which scores of revellers were killed.

    Eighteen Thais have been killed, nine have been wounded and 11 have been taken captive, foreign affairs officials said Tuesday.

    Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jakkapong Sangmanee said about 5,000 Thai nationals had been evacuated from high-risk areas, and “more than 3,000 people (are) asking to return to Thailand”.

    US: 11 Dead, Others Missing

    The United States on Monday confirmed the deaths of at least 11 US citizens and said it was likely that Americans were among the hostages being held by Hamas.

    Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed — many of whom made a second home in Israel,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

    Nepal: 10 Dead

    Ten citizens of Nepal were killed in Kibbutz Alumim, one of the flashpoints of the Hamas assault, the Himalayan republic’s embassy in Tel Aviv said on Sunday.

    Four others were being treated in hospital while a search was under way for a fifth person, the embassy added

    Kibbutz Alumim was hosting 17 students at the time of the attack.

    France: Eight Dead, 20 Missing

    Eight French nationals have been killed, the French government said on Tuesday, warning the death toll was likely to rise.

    Twenty people remained missing and some of them had in all likelihood been abducted, it said

    Argentina: Seven Dead, 15 Missing

    Argentina’s foreign ministry on Monday confirmed that seven of the country’s nationals were killed and 15 others were missing.

    Russia: Four Dead, Six missing

    At least four Russian-Israelis have been killed, the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv said.

    It stated that it had no information about any hostages, but that six Russian nationals were missing.

    Ukraine: Two Dead

    Two Ukrainian women who had been living in Israel for years were killed, Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Sunday.

    UK: Two Dead

    Two British men have been confirmed dead by their families. One, 20-year-old Nathanel Young, was serving in the Israeli army.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Tuesday that a “significant number” of British-Israeli dual nationals had been caught up in the fighting.

    Canada: One Dead, Three Missing

    The Canadian government said Monday that one Canadian had died and three others were missing.

    Cambodia: One Dead

    Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said one Cambodian student was killed.

    Germany: Several Hostages

    Several dual German-Israeli nationals were kidnapped, a German foreign ministry source said Sunday.

    The mother of 22-year-old Shani Louk told news outlet Der Spiegel that she recognised her daughter in videos circulating online of a half-naked woman lying seemingly unconscious face down in the back of a pick-up truck in Gaza filled with armed men.

    Ricarda Louk told Spiegel that her daughter had been at the music festival.

    Philippines: Five Missing

    The Philippines ambassador to Israel said Tuesday five citizens were unaccounted for, with one of them possibly abducted.

    Chile: Three Dead, One Missing

    Three Israelis of Chilean origin are dead and one is missing.

    Peru: Two Dead, Three Missing

    Two Peruvians were killed and three are missing, authorities said.

    Austria: Three Missing

    Austria’s foreign ministry said early on Tuesday that three dual Austrian-Israeli nationals who were staying in the south of Israel, independently of each other, could be among those abducted.

    Brazil: One Dead, Three Missing

    Brazil’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a Brazilian-Israeli citizen was dead. It was not clear if they were among the three dual Brazilian-Israeli nationals missing after attending the festival.

    Italy: Two Missing

    Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that two Israeli-Italians were missing.

    “They have not been located and are not answering calls,” he said.

    Paraguay: Two Missing

    Two Paraguayan nationals who had been living in Israel are missing, Paraguay’s government said, without giving details.

    Peru: Two Missing

    The Peruvian foreign ministry said two nationals were missing, without offering any further details.

    Sri Lanka: Two Missing

    Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Israel said Tuesday that two nationals, a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, were missing.

    Tanzania: Two Missing

    Tanzania’s ambassador to Israel told AFP two Tanzanian nationals were missing.

    Mexico: Two Hostages

    Mexico’s Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that two Mexicans, a man and a woman, had been taken hostage, without giving further details

    Colombia: Two Hostages

    Two Colombians who were at the Supernova festival were missing, Israel’s ambassador to Colombia said on X.

    The Colombian government confirmed that two Colombians were at the rave and said it was trying to help locate them.

    Ireland: One Missing

    An Irish-Israeli woman has been confirmed missing by the Irish government.

    AFP

  • NIS retrieves over 700 permanent voter cards from foreigners in Jigawa state

    NIS retrieves over 700 permanent voter cards from foreigners in Jigawa state

    The Comptroller of the Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Ahmad Bagari, has revealed that over 700 permanent voter cards were retrieved from foreigners based in the state.

    Command’s spokesperson, Nura Ibrahim made this disclosure via a statement on Friday.

    Ibrahim, stated that the recovery exercise was part of NIS’s efforts to ensure that no foreigner votes during the Saturday general election.

    items including PVCs and National Identity cards, which were recovered from the 700 foreigners, had been confiscated and handed over to the national headquarters of NIS in Abuja.

    While calling on the people of the state to follow guidelines for a successful free, fair, and credible election in the state, the statement stated further that the borders in the state had been closed.

  • Nigeria Army arrests NIMC officials for registering foreigners in Niger Republic

    Nigeria Army arrests NIMC officials for registering foreigners in Niger Republic

     

    Two suspected fake National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) officials have been apprehended by the Nigerian Army in the West Africa nation of  Niger Republic for allegedly registering foreigners for National Identity Number (NIN).

    This was made known  by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, during the bi-weekly briefing at the Defence Headquarters.

    General Danmadami disclosed that the suspects had visited Gagamari IDPs camp in Niger Republic to register non-Nigerians in the IDPs camp, noting that items were recovered from the suspects including the National Identification Number (NIN) registration machine, printing machine, laminating machine, a computer tracking machine and a generator set among other items.

    The Army General  added that the military  also arrested terrorists, logistics suppliers and rescued civilians during its operation.

    According to him, they have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.

  • We are after foreign ‘Okada’ riders – Lagos CP

    We are after foreign ‘Okada’ riders – Lagos CP

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abiodun Alabi, says the command is after foreigners operating as commercial motorcyclists in the state.

    Alabi disclosed this on Friday in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

    He said that the command was aware of some foreigners operating as motorcyclists in the state and that they were after them.

    The CP spoke while parading 13 suspects by the command, allegedly involved in various crimes in the last one month.

    NAN repots that many of the motorcyclists operating in Lagos and some neighbouring states Nigeriens, Togolese, Beniniors and Chadians.

    “We are aware that many commercial motorcyclists operating in Lagos are foreigners and we have commenced routing checks with the aim of profiling them.

    “When we finish the profiling, we will hand them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and possible repatriation,” he said.

    On the inflow of motorcycles into Lagos State, Alabi said the command was activating the old strategy by deploying officers to all border towns to check every means of importing motorcycle in the state.

    “We are going to carry out the old strategy by ensuring that no motorcycle comes into the state. We will seize any motorcycle found in any vehicle coming into Lagos,” he said.

    The police commissioner had on Thursday, advised that people should stop giving out motorcycles as means of empowerment, but adopt other meaningful venture.

    Alabi, on Thursday was reacting to the total ban of commercial motorcycles in some local government areas in Lagos.

    “People buying Okada (motorcycles) as empowerment for people should have a rethink.

    “The fact remains that banning okada in Lagos while some people are bringing them in through empowerment is giving police problem in implementing the already existing laws,”he said.

  • Lagos officially announces fourth COVID-19 wave, threatens to deport erring foreigners

    Lagos officially announces fourth COVID-19 wave, threatens to deport erring foreigners

    The Lagos State Government has raised alarm over the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state with its positivity rate at six per cent.

    Governor Babajide who made the declaration in a statement on Tuesday said the state had begun to experience the beginnings of a fourth wave of the pandemic.

    The current positivity rate, according to him, is against the positivity rate of 0.1 per cent recorded as of mid-November and analyses revealed that the fourth wave is a result of non-adherence to the laid down protocols.

    As a way to tackle the rising cases, the governor appealed to residents to go to the various approved centres for the vaccine jabs to protect themselves from the virus.

    He also asked them to support the government in its effort to manage the fourth wave of the pandemic, especially during the festive season.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu noted the review of Nigeria’s travel protocol by the Presidential Steering Committee, saying the state government would ensure total enforcement.

    He stressed the need for inbound passengers to take the post-arrival Day 2 test within 48 hours of arrival into the country, as well as an additional Day 7 PCR test for all partially or unvaccinated returning travellers.

    The governor warned that the government would soon commence the prosecution of those that refuse to submit themselves for the tests by blacklisting their passports for one year.

    According to him, this will be done in synergy with the Presidential Steering Committee while foreigners who flout the rules risk deportation.

    Read the full statement below:

    MR GOVERNOR’S CORONAVIRUS PRESS STATEMENT– DECEMBER 07, 2021

    Fellow Lagosians,

    Firstly, I would like to commiserate with all Lagos residents who lost their loved ones during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hearts go out to you and the Incident Command System will continue to do everything that we can to mitigate the impact of this pandemic.

    Secondly, most of the continents of the world – including Africa – are now experiencing a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, Lagos State is not left out as we are also experiencing the beginnings of a fourth wave with the current positivity rate at 6%.

    This is against the positivity rates of 0.1% as of the middle of November 2021. Based on our analysis, the fourth wave was brought by the non-adherence to the laid down protocols to mitigate this pandemic.

    I would want to use this opportunity to, once again, plead with everyone to get vaccinated and join hands with the Lagos State Government in managing this wave of the pandemic in this festive season by following the guidelines we have set, especially regarding the use of face masks, public gatherings and travelling in and out of Lagos State.

    Epidemiology Update

    As of the 5th of December 2021, Lagos State had recorded a total of 78,564 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of this number, 71,977 have recovered in community and 612 are being managed actively in community.

    Over the course of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, about 6,066 patients have been admitted into our various COVID-19 care centres in Lagos: with 686 registered fatalities.

    Let me take this opportunity to, once again, urge all residents of Lagos State to take advantage of EKOTELEMED and our home-based care programme.

    Please, reach out to EKOTELEMED on our toll-free number 08000EKOMED (08000356633) if you have any symptoms associated with COVID-19 or have tested positive for the virus.

    Travel Protocols

    Based on the review of the current guidelines on travel protocols, the Presidential Steering Committee has released new rules which must be followed by all passengers arriving in Nigeria. These include:

    A COVID-19 PCR test is to be done within 48hrs before departure.

    Post-arrival Day 2 COVID-19 PCR test

    All partially and unvaccinated individuals to self-isolate for 7 days following arrival into the country and a Day 7 release PCR test.

    All outbound passengers to demonstrate evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19

    Negative PCR test results within 48hrs from the time to boarding a flight out of Nigeria.

    It is important to note that the review of the protocols was based on science, national experience and global developments. The Lagos State Government will do all within its power to enforce these new mandates and will prosecute anyone found wanting in compliance with them through our mobile courts.

    Regulation Of Day 2 And Day 7 Tests For Inbound Passengers For International Flights

    While it is a stringent requirement that all inbound passengers perform a Day 2 test within 48 hours of arrival into the country; and an additional Day 7 PCR test for all partially or unvaccinated inbound passengers, we cannot stress enough how important the strict adherence to these protocols are.

    These tests are mandatory to assist the State monitor the inflow of positive passengers, which we have identified as a veritable source of our waves and community spread.

    Based on this, we will commence the prosecution of those that refuse to submit themselves for these mandatory tests by blacklisting their passports for 1 year.

    This would be carried out in partnership with the Presidential Steering Committee. In addition, all foreigners that flout the rules would be subject to possible deportation

    Therefore, I implore all intending inbound passengers to perform their required tests at any of the private laboratories within the Lagos State Private Laboratory Consortium as and at when due.

    Fake Covid Test Results And Vaccination Cards

    It is also pertinent to mention at this point that we have received very disturbing information about intending outbound passengers procuring fake Covid test results and/or vaccination cards for travel purposes.

    This is a very worrisome trend for us to note and we are currently working with the NCDC, DSS and the Police to investigate and bring to book the criminal gangs involved in this reprehensible activity.

    We implore everyone to desist from patronizing these gangs, as anyone found with a fake COVID test result and/or vaccination card will also be liable to prosecution and very stiff penalties.

    Our State Mobile Courts will be used to prosecute all those involved in flouting the regulations; as well as those engaged in the fraudulent production of fake covid test results and vaccination certificates.

    Testing Protocols

    Up until today and into the future, the Lagos State Government is still offering free COVID-19 testing at all our public facilities for those that fit our case definition for COVID-19 infections. If anyone has any symptoms indicating a possible infection, please proceed to any of our public laboratories to get tested.

    We are also still operating our 10 sample collection sites at the level of our LGAs and encourage residents to proceed to these centres to get their samples taken if they feel ill or have been exposed to anyone who has an infection.

    It is also important to reiterate that our private laboratories are still available for those who want to test outside of the public health response.

    Booster Doses

    I am also very happy to announce that the Presidential Steering Committee, in partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health, has approved the administration of booster doses for anyone with the criteria below:

    Any persons 18 years and above;

    Time interval of 6 months or more after receiving the second dose of Astra Zeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech; or

    Time interval of 2 months or more after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

    Consequently, all Lagos residents should proceed to any of our public health facilities to receive these vaccines for free and at any of our 30 private priority health facilities to access them for an administrative fee of N4,500 per dose.

    Mitigating the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Our approach to mitigating the effects of the ongoing wave of the COVID-19 pandemic include the following:

    Increasing the percentage of vaccinated residents of Lagos State from 1.6% to 30% within one year. I have specifically mandated the Lagos State Ministry of Health to administer 8 million doses to 4 million residents by the 25th of December 2021 under the Count Me In campaign.

    We have deployed a robust strategy that involves the private sector to improve access to vaccines. We are launching 30 private priority sites for those who want to be vaccinated within a private health facility.

    While vaccination at public centres remains free, there is an administration fee (N4,500 per dose and N6,000 for two doses) at private centres. To register for the vaccination, please visit the registration portal at https://nphcda.vaccination.gov.ng/

    Over the next couple of days, the Lagos State Government will release policies to facilitate the uptake of vaccines to achieve desirable herd immunity.

    Guidelines for Social Events and Gatherings During the Festive Period

    All Social Events must be duly registered to obtain Event Safety Clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission website: www.lasgsafetyreg.com prior to holding; and the guidelines set out below must be strictly adhered to.

    Where possible events should be held outdoors.

    Occupancy limit at any event must not exceed 60% of maximum design capacity of the event centre.

    Every attendee of a social gathering MUST present their Vaccination Cards or digital bar code page showing at least first dose but preferably double dose full vaccination.

    In unvaccinated people, a negative PCR within 72 hours will be an exemption.

    Everybody, irrespective of vaccination status, MUST be subject to Rapid Diagnostic test (Antigen) to be conducted AT THE EVENT VENUE OR within 24hrs prior to the event at designated laboratories. (Request for rapid tests at the venue requires an application through the Safety Commission).

    Under 18 years of age are unvaccinated and the above applies.

    Guests and service providers with high temperature (above 37.5) are to be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on the ground.

    All guests and service providers at the event must wear a nose mask or face shield before entry.

    All guests and service providers must endeavour to wash their hands before entering the venue or use hand sanitisers after which temperature checks should be carried out.

    Hand sanitisers to be positioned at the entry point and at different spots within the venue.

    In Conclusion

    Despite the huge financial obligation and constraints associated with managing this pandemic, our administration will continue to do everything within its power to ensure the preservation of the lives and livelihood of residents of Lagos State.

    As always, I would like to thank all members of our Emergency Operations Centre and our Incident Command System, in addition to all our health workers in the public and private sectors, without leaving out our colleagues in the federal institutions for their dedication and commitment in the management of this response.

    Once again, I implore all residents of Lagos to comply with all guidelines and join hands with the government in the management of this pandemic.

    Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

    Governor of Lagos State

    December 7, 2021

  • FG bans over 2,000 Nigerians, foreigners from travelling abroad, coming into Nigeria for one year

    FG bans over 2,000 Nigerians, foreigners from travelling abroad, coming into Nigeria for one year

    The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has banned over 2,000 Nigerians and foreigners from traveling abroad and into the country for one year, for evading the Coronavirus Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the country’s international airports.

    The National Incident Manager (NIM) of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), Mukhtar Muhammad, disclosed this at its briefing on Monday, in Abuja.

    Muhammad said that the names of over 2,000 citizens’ and foreigners’ had been pasted at all the major federal medical facilities where medical experts were assigned to give care to Nigerians and foreigners that had travelled into the country during the COVID-19 third wave.

    He said government had insisted that passengers, who arrived into the country, especially from high risk countries, must be quarantined in a government provided facility, and that the passports of those who failed to comply with the protocol had been suspended for one year.

    “We have included the provision of quarantine for passengers, who arrived from high risk countries and people who evaded these protocols have been penalised by publishing their names, as well as suspending their passports for one year.

    “Let me assure you that so far we have published the list of over 2,000 people who evaded quarantine in our health facilities. And we have gone ahead to ensure that their passports are suspended, so, for every action there are consequences,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the PSC on May 1, 2021, issued a Travel Advisory for Passengers arriving in Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey.

    The precautionary measures were a necessary step to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of concern and breaking the chain of transmission to the population, according to the chairman, Boss Mustapha.

    Under the measures, passengers arriving from/or that have visited any of these three countries within fourteen (14) days prior to the visit to Nigeria, were required to follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities.

    But many passengers failed to observe the compulsory isolation or to present themselves for the PCR repeat test on day seven, various findings have shown.

    The PSC had previously also published names and passport numbers of defaulters.

  • FG declares another batch of 132 Nigerians, foreigners wanted

    FG declares another batch of 132 Nigerians, foreigners wanted

    The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has declared another 132 travellers, consisting Nigerians and foreigners, wanted for violating a recently issued travel advisory.

    The PSC, on May 1, 2021, issued a travel advisory, instructing travellers arriving from India, Brazil and Turkey, or who had visited the countries within 14 days of their trip to Nigeria, to observe certain protocols, including compulsory quarantine and testing in designated facilities on arrival.

    However, the committee observed that many travellers had been violating the advisory, leading to earlier announcement of 90 violators as wanted persons on May 9.

    In a statement on Thursday evening by chairman of the PSC and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, the Committee announced the 132 additional violators of the advisory, who entered through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, advising members of the public to be on the lookout, describing the persons as immediate health hazard.

    “The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 on 1st May, 2021 issued a Travel Advisory for Passengers arriving in Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey.

    “These precautionary measures are a necessary step to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of concern and break the chain of transmission to the population.

    “Under the new measures, passengers arriving from/or that have visited any of these three countries within fourteen (14) days prior to the visit to Nigeria, are required to follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities.

    “The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has however observed that while most of the arriving passengers dutifully observed the guidelines, some (Nigerians and Foreigners) have
    violated them in contravention of the provisions of the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) HEALTH REGULATIONS PROTECTION, 2021.

    “Accordingly, the underlisted persons who arrived in Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and whose names and passport numbers are displayed, have been declared Persons of Interest (POI) on account of posing considerable danger to overall public health and for the violation of Nigeria COVID-19 travel protocol by evading the mandatory 7-day quarantine for persons arriving from restricted countries.

    “Members of the public are by this notice advised that these persons of interest constitute an immediate health hazard to the society.

    “They must therefore transport themselves safely, to the nearest state public health departments within 48hrs of this notice for immediate evaluation and call the Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health on 08036134672 or 08032461990 for further directions.

    “The PSC shall in addition, take further steps to sanction these violators. These steps include: Disabling their travel passports for a period not less than one year; Cancellation of visas/permits of foreigners that have abused Nigeria’s hospitality, and prosecution under the 2021 Health Protection Regulations,” the statement reads.

  • COVID-19: FG approves extension for foreigners in Nigeria with valid pass FOC

    COVID-19: FG approves extension for foreigners in Nigeria with valid pass FOC

    Foreigners with valid visitors pass or resident permit with confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out would be issued the relevant government extensions at no cost, the Federal Government has declared.

    The extension is to enable the beneficiaries reschedule their flights and travel within one week whenever the restriction on travel is suspended.

    Many foreigners are stranded owing to the closure of the international airports and land borders by the FG to curb the spread of coronavirus.

    The development made many foreign embassies in the country, including the United States Mission, British High Commission and others, demand government permission to airlift their nationals through special evacuation flights.

    But the Nigeria Immigration Service explained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had approved the order in respect of the aliens affected by the embargo on international travels vide a letter with reference MI/PM/16012/S.266/V.II, dated April 6.

    The statement by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, said: “In the light of the above, all visitors and migrants holding valid visitors pass or resident permit with confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out within the period of the international travel restriction, are to be issued with relevant extensions at no cost to enable the beneficiaries to reschedule their flights and travel within one week whenever the embargo is suspended by the Federal Government.”

    However foreigners whose permits pass expired before the restriction order must pay for overstay for the period and the penalty it attracts.

    “Furthermore, anyone that overstays beyond the waiver period whenever the restriction is lifted by the Federal Government is to promptly comply by paying for overstay,” it added.