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Tag: Immigration

  • Immigration cautions Nigerians against misusing U. S. visas

    Immigration cautions Nigerians against misusing U. S. visas

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued an advisory urging Nigerians to use their U.S. visas responsibly and in strict compliance with the stated purpose of their application.

    This follows concerns raised by the U.S. Government over the misuse of visas by some Nigerian citizens.

    In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the Service Public Relations Officer,(SPR0), Akinsola Akinlabi, said Nigerians holding U.S. visas must adhere to the terms and conditions under which the visas were granted.

    “The Nigeria Immigration Service wishes to inform the general public of concerns raised by the United States Government regarding the misuse of U.S. visas by Nigerians.

    “All visa holders are advised to strictly adhere to the purpose stated in their visa applications

    “U.S. authorities conduct security screening beyond the initial point of entry into the country. Any breach of immigration or other laws can lead to visa revocation or deportation.

    “Breach of visa conditions, including overstaying, may attract severe penalties, including removal from the U.S. and permanent ineligibility for future travel,” he said.

    According to him, the U.S. remains committed to maintaining a secure and transparent visa process and expects all visa holders to comply fully with its immigration regulations.

    He also advised Nigerian students in the U.S. to remain in active study programmes and refrain from unauthorised withdrawal or absenteeism.

    He noted that such actions could result in visa cancellation and the loss of future eligibility for U.S. travel.

    The NIS warned that the U.S. consular officers reserve the right to deny tourist visas to applicants suspected of intending to travel for the purpose of giving birth, in a bid to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.

    “The NIS will continue to collaborate with the U.S. Mission in Abuja to ensure Nigeria is not included in any expanded visa restrictions,” he said.

    “We are calling on all Nigerian citizens to comply with U.S. visa rules as such conduct is essential to safeguarding legitimate travel opportunities.

  • Foreigners attempting to obtain Nigerian passports to be prosecuted – NIS

    Foreigners attempting to obtain Nigerian passports to be prosecuted – NIS

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has begun a capacity building training for its Passport Control Officers (PCOs), announcing its commitment to prosecute foreigners arrested while attempting to obtain Nigerian passports.

    The NIS Comptroller-General, Mrs Kemi Nandap, said this at the opening of the three-day workshop on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Nandap said that the workshop, themed “Strengthening Identity Management through Innovations in Passport Administration”, was designed for PCOs from across the country.

    She said that the service was taking steps to immediately prosecute some arrested  individuals by extant laws, vowing that the era of impunity was over.

    She said the participants will learn about ICT integration, customer satisfaction, and document vetting.

    “This is an essential skill for their role as gatekeepers of national identity, ” Nandap said.

    The NIS boss issued a stern warning against malpractices and other forms of illegal acts and misconducts by personnel.

    “I want you to know that this workshop is not a joke, because rising from this three-day workshop, any officer, any person who is caught, whether in your service, whether in your station or your post, will be dealt with.

    “This is because you will be responsible for everyone under your command. I mean every one of your officers, you are there to supervise them.

    “We will hold everyone accountable. You must know what is happening in your area, in your post,” Nandap said.

    She urged the participants to be proactive and thorough in their duties, emphasising that the Nigerian passport is a symbol of trust and that anyone being issued the passport must be a Nigerian.

    “Anyone who holds that passport, you are saying that you have certified that person as a bona fide, true Nigerian. That is what it means.

    “So before you issue anybody that passport, make sure that, yes, you are satisfied that this person is a bona fide Nigerian.

    “That is what our Act says and that is what you must all do because we are getting too many incessant issues of non-Nigerians acquiring our passports,” she said.

    The NIS CG , however, commended the PCOs for their vigilance and swift reporting protocol across all passport offices in the country.

    “Please increase your vigilance because I know a lot of your Commands, a lot of Passport Officers have reported these cases and of course, our Legal team is working on it.

    “We will make sure that we prosecute them. They will not go free. Not anymore. It is not acceptable”, she said.

    She also warned against extortion and other forms of corruption, promising severe sanctions for offenders and rewards for excellence.

    Nandap urged officers to work quickly and meet deadlines, stressing that all proper security checks must be completed before issuing a passport.

    According to her, the passport was a symbol of the nation and must be issued with absolute integrity.

    Nandap emphasised the importance of immigration officers understanding how to assess an individual’s nationality.

    She named factors such as speech patterns, appearance, and other criteria could be used to help determine if someone was not a Nigerian saying that it was  essential for officers to be aware of those factors.

  • No escape route for criminals fleeing Nigeria – Immigration

    No escape route for criminals fleeing Nigeria – Immigration

    The Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Lagos State Command,  Aliyu Akadri has warned criminals trying to flee the country that there is no escape route as the service remained prepared for them.

    Akadri, gave the warning during a visit to the  Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh on Tuesday at the command headquarters in  Ikeja.

    According to him, the Federal government has provided the NIS with sophisticated gadgets and equipment to monitor movements in and out of the country.

    “Once we get an order from the court that a criminal is wanted or they are looking for a person, we remain at alert.

    “The government has assisted us in so many ways by making our job very easy, there is no way a criminal can sneak out of the country now that we have acquired some new security gadgets.

    “Any criminal that plans to  flee the country should better have a rethink because he/she  will surely be apprehended, even If they  take an illegal route,” he said.

    The immigration boss said that his purpose for the visit is to strengthen collaboration in crime fighting and intelligence gathering.

    “It is important that police and immigration synergised for security of Lagos state and the country at large.

    “The purpose of our visit is to consolidate, collaborate, synergise, and  transform the relationship between the police and the NIS.

    “If there is any intelligence report we gathered, we can easily send it to the police and vice versa, ” he said.

    The comptroller said that no agency could  do the job of security alone without  collaboration.

    “With the security situation in Nigeria, no agency must be underated, all  security agencies are one, we are all working for the same goal which is to protect Nigeria, ” he said.

    Responding, the commissioner  assured the NIS boss that the meeting would further strengthen the existing collaboration between the immigration and  police in their joint security efforts.

    “The NIS’s visit to my office is a testimony of a cordial relationship we have been enjoying over the years.

    “I want to assure you that we are going to strengthen this cooperation to achieve maximum productivity for the nation.

    “On a daily basis, we do a lot of things in common to ensure that we are serving the same nation.

    “We should continue to be on the same page to work together in a collaborative manner, ” the commissioner said.

    According to him, co-ordination between the two agencies will  take centre stage to ensure that  people of Lagos and visitors alike enjoy the best security cooperation between the agencies.

  • FG reopens recruitment portal for Immigration, civil defense, correctional services

    FG reopens recruitment portal for Immigration, civil defense, correctional services

    The Federal Government has announced that the online recruitment portal for Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies reopens on Monday, July 21, 2025, following a temporary suspension to optimize system performance.

    The announcement was contained in a statement shared via the official X account of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) on Sunday.

    Applicants who had successfully initiated their applications are advised to return to the portal and complete the process at https://recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng.

    CDIFIB 2025 Recruitment Update

    “Please be kindly informed that applicants who successfully initiated their applications are advised to retrieve their applications and complete the applications they have initiated.

     

    “The system will reopen on Monday, July 21st, 2025,” the statement read in part.

     

    Recall the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, which is responsible for handling recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), and the Federal Fire Service (FFS), temporarily suspended the recruitment process on July 16, 2025.

     

    The decision, the board explained, was taken to allow for critical system upgrades that would enhance the platform’s capacity to manage a large number of applications while promoting a fair, transparent, and efficient recruitment experience for all applicants.

     

    Applicants have also been reminded that the entire recruitment process is completely free of charge.

  • Immigration service repatriates 62 Mali nationals

    Immigration service repatriates 62 Mali nationals

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Illela Border Command in Sokoto State, has confirmed the repatriation of 62 Republic of Mali nationals through the Illela Control Post.

    The Controller of the command, Mr Tony Akuneme, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, added that they comprised of 51 males and 11 females.

    Akuneme said the Mali nationals were escorted from the NIS headquarters in Abuja to Illela Border in Sokoto, by a team of eight officers led by Insp. Mamoud Sadiq, in two buses.

    He said that the team arrived the border post at about 8:00pm on Friday.

    “Upon their arrival, I directed the Assistant Controller in charge of Human Resources, Adamu Mshelia, who also doubled as the Officer in Charge of Anti-Smuggling Unit (ANTISOM) to oversee the proper documentation of the repatriated individuals.

    “After due procedures, the irregular migrants were handed over to officers of the Niger Republic Police at the Birnin Konni control post.

    “At Birnin Konni, the migrants underwent another round of screening and documentation before being received by the Commisere, the police chief of the area,” he added.

    In a related development, the NIS boss said that the construction of both mega and mini Forward Operating Bases (FOB) was ongoing at the Illela control post.

    He said the upgrade by the NIS Controller-General, Kemi Nandap, was in continuation of her drive to rid the country of irregular migrants across the 36 states and FCT.

    “The construction company has commenced land clearance and demolition of some dilapidated and unserviceable structures.

    “We appreciate the CG for this upgrade, which aligns with her commitment to curbing irregular and prohibited migration across the country,” he said.

    Akuneme assured the public that the situation remains calm in Illela and Tangaza areas, with military and security personnel maintaining presence to address threats from Lakurawa bandits.

  • Immigration warns against alarming increase fake recruitment

    Immigration warns against alarming increase fake recruitment

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a stern warning to the general public against the alarming increase in fake recruitment activities being perpetrated by fraudsters.

    The NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, said this in a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Kenneth Udo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Nandap said that these unscrupulous individuals had been deceiving unsuspecting members of the public with false promises of employment opportunities within the service.

    “The attention of the NIS has been drawn to the alarming increase in fake recruitment activities being perpetrated by fraudsters.

    “The NIS maintains that all recruitment exercises are conducted in a transparent, free and merit-based manner.

    “Vacancies are advertised through the NIS website, official government channels and recognised national newspapers.

    “The NIS is working closely with relevant authorities to apprehend those involved in these fraudulent activities and bring them to justice.

    “The Service remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in all its operations,” she said.

    The Comptroller General urged the general public to remain vigilant and refrain from patronising fraudulent recruitment schemes.

    “Anyone who receives unsolicited messages or is approached by individuals claiming to represent the NIS on recruitment matters should report to the service through the following official channels.

    “Official Website: www.immigration.gov.ng, X: @nigimmigration, Instagram: @nigimmigration, Facebook: @nigimmigration, Contact Center Numbers: 09121900655, 09121556359, 09121477092.

  • Kemi Badenoch talks tough on mass immigration, says western world can’t continue

    Kemi Badenoch talks tough on mass immigration, says western world can’t continue

    Kemi Badenoch has vowed a tough new approach on immigration as she warns that the United Kingdom (UK) cannot sustain current levels.

    The Tory leader via the microblogging platform, X on Wednesday insisted she would speak about the topic ‘without fear’ admitting that the party had not done enough in government to curb immigration numbers.

    She outlined her intention to set a strict annual cap on legal immigration, though she refused to say what it would be.

    She further emphasized the needs for politicians to prioritize the needs of British citizens before considering how to assist others.

    She said: “We need to talk about immigration. The truth is for nearly 30 years,  mass migration has been far too high, under all governments, by all parties, and not just here, too high all across the Western worlds. 

    “We need a new approach. I am the new leader of the conservative party, and we are going to do things differently. I am saying no more; the system is broken, we can not go on like, and we need to change. 

    “But that was not the whole story. We may have tried to control numbers, but overall we did not deliver. Under my leadership, we are learning from our mistakes, and it is time for a new approach.
    We need to change. Let’s break it down.

    “First: if immigration is too quick, there is no integration. The ties that bind us start to fray. It doesn’t matter whether you are massively for immigration, or massively against it; without a shared national identity our country will suffer. When people come here, they must buy into the values, customs, and institutions that attracted them in the first place.

    “Second: the political class cannot pretend that immigration comes only with benefits and no costs when we can all see the pressure on housing, roads, GPs, and wages. We must be honest. The failure of politics over the last thirty years has been to gloss over it or make it a fringe issue. That has to stop.

    “Third: we can no longer be naïve. It’s nonsense that we have allowed a situation where judges deem safe countries to be unsafe. Where loopholes are wilfully exploited by opportunists. Where the latest legal ruses and wheezes are sent around the world on social media.

    “Our institutions are failing; they have proven, that they are unable to determine who wants to contribute and who’s simply exploiting our openness.

    “Britain is a high-trust society, and we can not let our systems be taken advantage of, so we need to do things differently. I want to rebuild the trust between the conservative party and the British people. I know we have a lot of work to do, but the first time is to accept that mistakes were made, and that is what i will do. We got it wrong, and we are going to learn. When done right, limited immigration can work for this country. But it is no surprise that many people don’t believe that anymore.

    “The conservatives are going to deliver a detailed plan for immigration to put before you at the next elections, not the policies of Labour, which are going to fail, but a real plan that will, for the first time in 30 years, actually bring immigration right down and be honest with you about the trade-offs. It is time to tell the truth about immigration, and over the coming months, that is exactly what I am going to do.”

  • NIS unveils sweeping reform agenda

    NIS unveils sweeping reform agenda

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has inaugurated a sweeping reform agenda aimed at enhancing national security and migration management.

    This is contained in a communique signed by the NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, and issued by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Mr Kenneth Udo, following the Service’s annual conference in Jos, Plateau on Saturday.

    The conference, held from Wednesday, October 30 to Saturday, November 2, was tagged “Enhancing Border security and Migration Management on a globalised world: challenges and opportunities for Nigeria”.

    Nandap said that the conference brought together 448 participants, including top government officials, diplomats, and stakeholders.

    She said the event aimed to assess the service’s preparedness, identify emerging challenges, and develop sustainable strategies for repositioning the NIS.

    “NIS will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies and stakeholders. Cutting-edge technology will be used to improve border security and migration management.

    “A strategic plan will be developed to align with the Federal Government’s initiatives on Foreign Direct Investments and Tourism.

    “Divisional Immigration Offices will be restructured to enhance intelligence gathering and community engagement. Further process re-engineering will promote professionalism, patriotism, and discipline, “she said.

    She also said that training and capacity building would be prioritised to enhance knowledge acquisition and professionalism.

    According to her, a robust health insurance policy and pension package will be implemented for retired officers.

    The NIS boss expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their support.

    The Governor of Plateau State, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, was also acknowledged for his hospitality and assistance in making the conference a success.

  • Board disowns report of recruitment into immigration service

    Board disowns report of recruitment into immigration service

    The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), has disowned an online publication on recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    A statement by the Secretary to the board, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, said that the information did not emanate from the board.

    “The board wishes to inform the general public that the purported online publications did not emanate from the board and as such, should be disregarded.

    “It also wishes to warn the members of the public to be wary of the activities of fake recruitment syndicates and racketeers,” it said.

    The board, however, said that the recruitment into the Federal Fire Service (FFS)), was currently ongoing and that shortlisted candidates would be dully notified of the next stage of the exercise.

    This, the board added, would be done by telephone messages and emails applicants provided during the process of registration.(

  • Nigeria Immigration repatriates Zimbabwean cleric

    Nigeria Immigration repatriates Zimbabwean cleric

    The Nigeria Immigration Service has ordered the immediate repatriation of a Zimbabwean cleric, Mr Eben Nhiwatawi for allegedly violating immigration laws.

    This is contained in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Mr Kenneth Udo on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The cleric was apprehended by Operatives of the NIS on Aug. 24 in Yola, Adamawa for allegedly violation of Immigration protocols.

    Udo said that the cleric arrived in the country on Aug. 21, with a Tourist Visa (F5A) meant solely for tourism purposes.

    “However, it was discovered he participated in the Methodist Church leadership election process.

    “This,is in clear violation of the terms and privileges associated with the Tourist Visa as provided in the Nigeria Visa Policy 2024.

    “In light of the above, the NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap with Ministerial approval, has ordered his immediate repatriation from the country.

    “The Service encourages lawful inflow of Foreign Direct Investment and individuals engaging in business and social activities, as key facilitators of economic growth and development.

    “NIS will not tolerate any violation of the country’s Immigration laws, “he said.

    The NIS spokesman assured that the Service remained committed to preserving the country’s National Security and would continue to monitor the activities of foreigners for such purposes.