TheNewsGuru

Tag: Immigration

  • ECOWAS to establish migration academy‎ in Nigeria

    The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, on Saturday said ECOWAS would set up an Migration Academy in Tugga, Kebbi State, to train immigration officers in the sub-region

    Babandede disclosed this in Kano on Saturday at the Passing out Parade of 396 cadets of the 44th Superintendent Basic Course in Kano.‎

    He said thed to establish the institution was taken at a meeting of ECOWAS Heads of Immigration held in Abuja in 2017.‎

    ‎
    He said the academy, when established, would help in training officers ‎and border security personnel within the sub-region.

    Babandede said the institution would also strengthen collaboration between immigration officers and border security personnel within the sub-region.

    He also said that the academy ‎would help officers to learn French to enhance regional corporation and strengthen the capacity of the personnel.
    ‎
    ‎He said that NIS gathered 30 professors at the Command and Staff College, Sokoto, to develop new and responsive training curricula for the training institutions.

    The comptroller said the service would intensify efforts at the ongoing reforms on operational activities and staff welfare.‎

    He urged them to be hardworking, dedicated, disciplined and be good ambassadors of the service.

    In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, said the event represented a sincere demonstration of government commitment to strengthen national security architecture and gainful employment.

    “As you pass out from this institution ‎today, I enjoin you to remain guided by the training you have received as well as by the agencies rules of engagement in your conduct,” she said.

    ‎
    The Comptroller-General, Ghana Immigration, Mr. Kwame Takyi, ssid Ghana would continue to support the academy, adding that it was ready to partner other ECOWAS heads to make the dream a reality.

    The commandant of the training school, ‎Mr Richard Adegoke, thanked the Babandede for providing an enabling environment for the cadets.

    He urged the graduates to uphold and apply the requisite knowledge and good values they had imbibed during their training as good ambassadors of the school.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those who attended the event include, senators, representative of the Emir of Kano and heads of all security agencies in the state.

  • Passport Issuance: Immigration CG decries bribery, corruption amongst officials

    Passport Issuance: Immigration CG decries bribery, corruption amongst officials

    The Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, on Friday raised the alarm that some officers are still collecting bribes on passport issuance.

    Babandede, who disclosed this in Abuja during the official decoration of 48 senior officers promoted to the rank of Comptrollers of Immigration, warned officers to shun corrupt practices, adding that anyone caught in the act would be sanctioned.

    He warned against officers using their uniforms and arms to molest anybody.

    Babandede congratulated the promoted officers and urged them to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and commitment to duty in line with the mandate of the service, especially in furtherance of the Federal Government’s policy on ease of doing business.

    The immigration boss, who expressed sadness over the development, said: “I will not promote an officer who has been found collecting bribe? It is not a right for everybody to be promoted.

    “We still have challenges. Officers are still taking bribes on passport issuance. If an officer collects money to get a job for someone, we will dismiss the officer.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has always insisted that we must do our work very well and shun corruption. We must respect human rights. Do not use the uniforms and guns given to you by the government to molest anybody.

    “The elevation of all of you to the rank of Comptroller of Immigration Service is a mark of your dedication and loyalty to the service. It equally comes with a lot of responsibility. Therefore, I want to task you to redouble your efforts to ensure that the statutory responsibilities of the service are achieved and geared towards securing Nigeria against the current myriad of security challenges. We are putting everything in place to ensure that the service makes a very positive impact on the security matrix of the country as well as providing enabling environment for trade and tourism”.

    On the ongoing technology building, Babandede said: “Julius Berger has done well for the technology building. When completed next year June, we shall effectively monitor mobility of our borders. Our responsibility is to ensure that Nigeria is safer.”

    3,413 senior officers of the service between the ranks of Comptroller and Senior Inspector of Immigration were promoted.

     

  • Deportation: Nigeria, Ghana Immigration chiefs hold reconciliatory talks

    Deportation: Nigeria, Ghana Immigration chiefs hold reconciliatory talks

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and its Ghanaian counterpart have begun reconciliatory talks over the recent deportation of four Ghanaian nationals by Nigerian authority.

    NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James made this known in a Press Statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    He said that the Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede had played host to the visiting Comptroller-General of Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Kwame Takyi accompanied by the Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Rashid Bawa.

    “The meeting, which held behind closed doors, appeared to be a conciliatory meeting following the deportation of four Ghanaian nationals from Nigeria to Ghana.

    “Babandede when contacted confirmed the meeting saying details of a further meeting was being worked out by the Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Ghana.

    “There is no cause for alarm as both countries will resolve issues between both countries diplomatically.”

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister of interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) had authorised the deportation order of the four Ghanaian nationals over alleged violation of 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″, Mr James said.

    The visit comes a week after Nigeria deported four Ghanaians to Accra.

    NAN reports that no formal explanation was publicly rendered for the deportation, which was approved by Abdulrahman Dambazau, the interior minister.

    A month earlier, Nigeria had protested mass deportation of at least 723 of its citizens between 2018 and February 2019. The Nigerians were accused of illegal stay, cyber-crime, prostitution and other social vices.

    Eighty-one Nigerians were deported on alleged cyber-crime and illegal stay in January, while 115 have so far been deported in February on the allegation of overstay and prostitution.

    NAN reports that Nigerian ambassador to Ghana, Michael Abikoye, strongly protested the action to the Ghanaian government in Accra.

    Nigeria’s objection to the removal of its citizens from Ghana and failure to publicly state the offences of the four deported Ghanaians had fueled speculation that the March 22 decision might have been done in retaliation. (NAN)

     

  • Immigration disowns fake job website, says it is not recruiting

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it is not recruiting, contrary to information on “some fake dedicated website”.

    NIS Comptroller-General, Mr Muhammad Babandede said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday and signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Mr Sunday James.

    “The attention of the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr Muhammad Babandede, has been drawn to a fake dedicated website, www.nisrecruitment.com.ng.

    “Where unsuspecting members of the public are required to make payment for accessing application forms for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “I wish to state that the service is not recruiting and has not engaged any agent or vendor to do so on its behalf.

    “The public is to note that the said website and the application process is fake and entirely the handiwork of fraudsters. The service is using this medium to advise the public to disregard the said exercise and to also be wary of such fraudulent adverts as all official correspondence on the service are done through the official website: www.immigration.gov.ng,” he said.

  • Nigeria 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.

    “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.“

  • Saraki tasks Immigration CG on availability of Passport booklets

    Saraki tasks Immigration CG on availability of Passport booklets

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, urged the authorities of the Nigeria Immigration Service to work to ensure the availability of the international passport in view of the hardships often encountered by Nigerians who daily apply for the document.

    Saraki who gave the charge while commissioning a new passport office at the National Assembly described as worrisome a situation where Nigerians who apply for international passports have to wait for a long time before the passports are delivered to them.

    The President of the Senate, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, however, lauded the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, for the “good initiative” of locating a passport office at the National Assembly.

    Saraki noted that the establishment of the passport office at the National Assembly “will help to further strengthen the relationship between the legislative arm of government and the executive.”

    “Be that as it may, I believe that what is important to us as we get to understand their challenges is the concern we have as representatives of the people over the unavailability of passports where Nigerians have to wait a long time for passports to be delivered to them and the efficiency of it too,” he added.

    “I hope that the Comptroller General of Immigration will work to see how we can improve on this so that Nigerians can have their passports as at when due,” Saraki said. “I have traveled to a few countries and one of the complaints we get is the issue of unavailability of passport booklets.”

    He commended the CG of of NIS for the initiative and would continue to support the agency to improve on its services and ensuring that adequate passports are available for Nigerians who need them.

    “We will continue to support you to see what we can do in improving your efficiency and making the passport booklets readily available to Nigerians as at when they need passport renewal,” Saraki said.

    On his part, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, thanked the President of the Senate for commissioning the centre, an initiative he said is meant to further strengthen the good relations between the executive and the legislative arms of government.

    “Now that the Senate President has commissioned this Passport Office, it will now be easier for members of the National Assembly to get their passports issued or renewed. They no longer need to come to our office along the Abuja Airport Road for that,” Babandede said.

  • NIS promotes 8,821 officers

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has promoted 8821 Officers and Men for 2017 promotion exercise.

    The senior officer’s promotion list which was approved by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Service Board (CDFIPB) at its 59th meeting held on the 16th January, 2018 has a total of 5070 newly promoted officers which comprises 23 Assistant Comptrollers General (ACG) and 58 Comptrollers of Immigration Service (CIS).

    According to a statment issued last night by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, further breakdown of the promotion list has 79 Deputy Comptrollers of Immigration (DCI), 269 Assistant Comptrollers of Immigration (ACI) and 249 Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI). Others are 662 Superintendent of Immigration (SI), 423 Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI), 152 Assistant Superintendent of Immigration 1 (ASI1) and 108 Assistant Superintendent of Immigration 2 (ASI2).

    Also on the list are 100 Chief Inspectors of Immigration 1 (CII1), 187 Chief Inspectors of Immigration (CII), 233 Deputy Chief Inspectors of Immigration (DCII), 363 Assistant Chief Inspectors of Immigration (ACII), 409 Principal Inspectors of Immigration (PII), and 1757 Senior Inspectors of Immigration (SII).

    On the Junior Cadre, the list as approved by the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI) has a total of 3751 Men who were promoted to the next ranks.

     

  • Do more to halt to halt illegal migration, Tambuwal urges Immigration CG

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to do more to halt illegal migration of young and able-bodied Nigerians who undertake dangerous trips across the Sahara and Mediterranean Sea in bids to make it to Europe.

    The Governor also urged the service to increase vigilance around border areas to check influx of illegal migrants into the country especially through Sokoto and neighbouring states.

    Tambuwal spoke when he granted audience to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Baban Dede, at the Sokoto Government House.

    “Let me first of all commend you and your men for the good job you are doing especially in Sokoto and neighbouring states of Zamfara and Kebbi. Reports reaching us indicate that vast majority of your officers are carrying out their duties in professional manner.

    “Now that you are here, I want to appeal to the Service to streamline the number of multiple checkpoints mounted on various roads within the border areas in the state.

    “Even though we are aware that such checkpoints were in put place to control influx of illegal migrants into the country, local road users have complained of harassment by your men at such checkpoints. Please look into these complaints and help in addressing them,” he added.

    Tambuwal said the state government will support the community border patrols introduced by the Service, adding that the initiative would go along way in addressing security challenges in the country.

    In his remarks, the CG said they were in Sokoto to register their appreciation to the Governor for allocating 40 hectares of land to the Sokoto state command of NIS, as well as the Immigration Staff College situated in Sokoto.

    He said the Service under his command has introduced various initiatives aimed at improving the security of all Nigerians.