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Tag: NIS

  • NIS remits over N11.68bn, $22,972 to FG in 8 months

    NIS remits over N11.68bn, $22,972 to FG in 8 months

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has remitted over N11.68 billion and 22,972 dollars in eight months into the coffers of the Federal Government.

    The Comptroller General (CG), NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said this at the Comptroller General’s annual workshop on Thursday in Benin.

    Babandede said that NIS was not only a key security agency of government but a service provider and a revenue generating agency.

    “In 2018, we remitted the sum of N6,945,585,360 and $36,909,411 to FGN as its shares of the revenue we generated through Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

    “This year, from January 1st to August 31st, we lodged the sum of N11,682,009,761 and $22,972.38 into the coffers.

    “Every immigration officer, serving and retired, strongly believes that a review of some of the PPPs will double or even triple revenue at a time we are running a deficit budget.

    “I must not be quoted out of context.

    “I am a strong believer of PPP because it leverages resources and enhances efficiency, but not some of the PPPs we operate that exploit our resources and add little value to our work,” he said.

    The CG said that he was aware and confident that the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, would make a difference by renegotiating some of the PPPs.

    He said that the annual conference had become a strategic event that afforded the service the opportunity to reflect on its activities and also chart a new path and evaluate strategies, polices and programmes.

    “The annual conference has continued to support the service achieve far-reaching successes, enhance our operations and boost the confidence of the general public and international reunion as members of the NIS family,” he said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s comptroller general of immigration annual conference is tagged “Migration Management in a Developing Economy: the Role of NIS.”

    The annual conference was attended by the Governor of Edo, Godwin Obaseki, the Minister of Interior, retired Comptrollers General, Deputy Comptrollers General and Assistant Comptrollers General, among others.

  • Smuggling of migrants now criminal offence – NIS

    Smuggling of migrants now criminal offence – NIS

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has criminalised the smuggling of migrants in the country.

    The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammad Babandede, disclosed this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

    Babandede said that the criminalisation of smuggling of migrants had commenced since his assumption of office.

    While commending the Edo government for its efforts at managing migration and trafficking in the state, he said “since I came on board, we have criminalised smuggling of migrants”.

    He explained that the NIS was managing migration, adding that the annual national immigration conference was brought to the state because the state was already working with the service on managing migration.

    The NIS comptroller-general noted that host states were usually chosen based on the theme of the conference for a particular year.

    “This year, our theme is “Migration Management in Developing Economy: The Role of NIS,” he said.

    According to him, the essence of the theme is to let the people know that migration is not all about trafficking and to see how it would be of benefit to the state and the country at large.

    Babandede commended the state government for its support to the state command of NIS in particular and the service in general.

    In his response, the governor commended the service in dealing with the challenges of migration in the country.

    Obaseki noted that the support from the NIS had paved the way for the progress made so far by the state in migration issues.

  • NIS intercepts 32 illegal migrants in Niger

    NIS intercepts 32 illegal migrants in Niger

    The Niger state command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted 32 illegal Migrants in Niger state.

    The migrants who are mostly Nigeriens and Malians had sneaked into the country through illegal routes, the Comptroller, Mamman Ango disclosed.

    According to him, the arrest was made in a bid to secure the country’s border and bring an end to illegal crossing by migrants.

    Ango said that the migrants were between the ages of 12 to 35 and were interrupted in Kontagora adding that when interrogated confessed that they were heading to Lagos in search of greener pastures.

    He said that the illegal migrants were created by the Joint Border Operation Drill codenamed “Ex-Swift Response” which comprised of men of the Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, and Police.

    “Sector 3 of the Joint Border Operation Drill located in Kontagora axis intercepted the migrants who are all males and brought them this morning to the command.

    “We have profiled them and ascertained the nationality of each of them for immediate repatriation back to their respective countries.”

    The Comptroller further said that two 18-seaters buses are being ready to transport the migrants to Kamba Control Post in Kebbi state stating that from there, they would be handed over to the representatives of their respective countries.

    Ango then said that the Immigration Service has no problem with anyone coming into the country in search of greener pasture but stated that they need to go through the right channel and procedures of entering the country.

    He called for cooperation from the public to avail the Immigration Service and other security agencies with useful information to ensure the end is seen of illegal migration into Niger state.

  • NIS orders return of declared lost, found Nigerian passports

    NIS orders return of declared lost, found Nigerian passports

    Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has directed that all lost Passports declared to the service if found, be returned for cancellation.

    The Comptroller-General gave the directive in a statement by NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James.

    According to him, continuous use of such passports contravenes Section 10(1a) of the Immigration Act 2015.

    “The act states that a person who has, holds or is in unauthorised possession of more than one valid Standard Nigerian Passport, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to imprisonment for a term of 10 years or a fine of two million Naira or both,” he said.

    He, therefore, advised that such passports so declared, if found, must not be used for travel but submitted to the nearest Nigeria Immigration Service office for cancellation.

  • Court remands ex-soldier, accomplice for allegedly causing death of NIS officer

    Court remands ex-soldier, accomplice for allegedly causing death of NIS officer

    An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday remanded a former soldier, Agaba Idibia, and his accomplice, Aikhomun Moses, in Agodi prison for allegedly causing the death of a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Officer, Temitope Omisakin,.

    Chief Magistrate O.O Adisa, who declined to take the plea of the defendant, remanded Idibia and Moses in prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    Adisa adjourned the case until May 3, for mention.

    Idibia and Moses are charged with two counts of conspiracy and murder.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Sgt. Salewa Hammed told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired to commit the offence.

    He alleged that the defendants on Dec. 20, 2018 at about 8: 30 a.m. caused the death of Omisakin, 50, by hitting him with a rifle on the head.

    Hammed said that Idibia and his accomplice, hit the deceased when he challenged them over crossing the Nigerian border with illegal immigrants along Tailor Village, Irawo, Tede area, Oyo.

    The offence, the counsel said, is contrary to the provisions of sections 324, 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo state, 2000.

  • NIS Edo issues 38,752 passports in 2018

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Edo, said 38,752 passports were issued by the command in 2018.

    Mr Kayode Eniolorunda, State Comptroller of the NIS, made this known in his opening remarks at the End of Year/Award Ceremony of the command in Benin on Sunday.

    Eniolorunda said that the figure was an increase over 28, 237 passports issued in 2017, representing about 38 per cent increase.

    He noted that with 416 officers and men in the command, the command had diligently carried out various statutory duties ranging from surveillance to visa and residency and other ad-hoc duties.

    Eniolorunda said that in 2018, the command had a robust human capital development as no fewer than 173 officers and men were trained and retrained for enhanced service delivery.

    He noted that in 2018, about 64 officers and men of the command were promoted.

    The state comptroller also said that the command had witnessed tremendous growth over the last one year with various landmark achievements which had direct bearings on the residents of the state.

    He explained that some of the achievements included, streamlining the process of acquiring passports by making it seamless and time-bound.

    “Today with all modesty, I can proudly affirm that to acquire passport now takes not more than 48 hours in the command.

    “Time they say is money. The realisation of this informed the creation of a VIP room to cater for our high profile clients, ‘’ Eniolorunda said.

    He further said that the command had upgraded infrastructure in the office to create a conducive atmosphere for applicants during their stay.

    During the ceremony, awards were presented to three officers of the command who distinguished themselves in their services, as well as some corporate bodies and hospitality-providing bodies.

    The presentation of the awards was a maiden innovation introduced in the command.

     

  • 2019: NIS vows to deport illegal immigrants masquerading as election observers

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has vowed to deport foreign nationals who intend to disguise as tourists to illegally observe next month’s general elections in Nigeria.

    According to a report by Vanguard newspaper, the Controller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, said this during his first quarterly forum with Command Comptrollers and Zonal Coordinators Thursday in Abuja, on the Service’s preparation for the elections.

    He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was already taking care of the accreditation of foreign election observers and only genuine observers would be allowed access to election venues.

    “If you are a monitor participating in election, you should declare it right from the beginning. We don’t want people to do countersign operation in the name of election.

    “We don’t want anybody who will come and create tension and crises in our community so any none Nigerian coming in, we must know the purpose of coming,” he said.

    Babandede also said prior to the general elections, entry points into the country would be closed, especially land borders, as a strategy to halt the participation of foreigners in the polls.

    “If you get a visa to come to Nigeria to do business, to do tourism, or to participate in something else other than monitoring election and we find you monitoring election, we will charge you and deport you because that is not what you asked for.

    “It is not allowed in our country. If you come into the country for a purpose you must remain for that purpose. If you are coming to work, work. If you are coming as a tourist, then don’t use the opportunity to participate in election in any way.”

    The Comptroller-General who also promised judicious use of the N2.6 billion allocated to the service for election monitoring and participation, challenged Nigerians to hold the agency accountable if they feel otherwise.

    He promised that from the money allocated to the agency, every officer will be paid their allowances.

    “We will fuel our vehicles, we will patrol, provide identity for election so that any officer who decides to participate in election and doesn’t have the identity, he or she will be in trouble. We will provide food for officers so that they don’t have to leave their duty posts and all these things will be made available,” he said.

     

  • NIS launches 10-year validity international passport, Buhari, Osinbajo receive theirs

    NIS launches 10-year validity international passport, Buhari, Osinbajo receive theirs

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice Yemi Osinbajo with the new 10-year diplomatic passport.

    The passports were presented by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, and the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede.

    Officials of NIS had earlier captured the biometrics of the president and the vice president shortly before the commencement of an extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council inside the council chamber of the presidential villa.

    Apart from the 10-year validity, the new passport, according to the NIS has enhanced security and is ”weather friendly”.

    The Immigration Service said the new passport has polycarbonate technology that eliminates damage and that it now saves Nigerians in diaspora the time needed to frequently visit Nigerian embassies for new passports.

    Last October, Babandede announced that Nigeria will begin using the new passport by December 2018.

    Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, he said “ten years after the enrollment of the e-passport system, we need to improve the security features”.

    “You can’t keep documents for 10 years without seeing decreased values in them, so we are improving the security features which would raise the standards of the passports,” he said.

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

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

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

    Comptroller-General of NIS Mr Muhammad Babandede disclosed this at the 2018 NIS award presentation in Abuja.

    According to Babandede, the service is fully involved in the election process to ensure that no foreigner voted during the 2019 general elections.

    “This year, we have retrieved over 700 voter cards from non Nigerians.

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

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

    “During the election, we will ensure the borders are secured so that nobody can enter the country during the days of election.

    “Immigration service has changed for the better.

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

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

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

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

    “I thank President Buhari for approving the unique project for the NIS. That has never been done since inception in 1958.

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

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

    The comptroller-general said that with the support of NIS board, the ‘bad guys’ were punished in 2018.

    “We dismissed many officers, retired officers and reduced the rank of officers.

    “Today is a day for the good officers,” he said.

    He also said that as part of its effort at improving service delivery, NIS usually constructed two new commands annually.

    “Last year, we did two in Jigawa and Kano. This year we will commission two in Abia and Plateau.

    “We thank government for supporting building of infrastructure,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 26 officers across the country received various awards ranging from Service, Minister and Comptroller-General awards.

    The awards were based on gallantry, exemplary leadership, and meritorious service, among others.

  • Synagogue church receives highest number of tourists annually in Nigeria

    The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) receives the highest number of tourists annually in Nigeria, a tourism expert has said.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Gbenga Onitilo stated this at the Nigeria Travel Week (NTW) 2018 event, being the 2nd edition of NTW, held in Lagos.

    “The synagogue church (SCOAN) in Ikotun receives the highest number of tourists in Nigeria. It is a city on its own,” Onitilo said.

    Every year, SCOAN hosts millions of national and international visitors.

    The church has been reported to attract more weekly attendees than the combined number of visitors to Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.

    Figures released by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) indicated that six out of every ten foreign travellers coming into Nigeria are bound for SCOAN.

    Over two million local and inbound tourists visit the Christian organization, which runs Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, annually.

    Also, the SCOAN’s popular services have resulted in an enormous boost for local businesses and hoteliers.

    “You need to sell to the world what you want them to come and see,”Ademola Sanya, a participant at the event, stated.

    According to Yemisi Shyllon, also a participant at the event, Nigeria has the potential to generate ten times more than what it is generating from crude oil.

    “From proven parameters, we are talking about $700 billion; and Lagos alone can make $70 million. Forget the roads and insecurity — there are dark spots all over the world. Why do we travel abroad? It’s because we want to see something foreign to our culture

    “We have to design our tourism to showcase our cultural identity. There is beauty around our culture (and identity), lets stop denigrating our culture. We Nigerians, we demean our culture; we demonise our culture; we destroy our culture. But that’s what you all go to Dubai to see/experience.

    “Tourism is about selling all the material and intangible culture of a people to foreigners,” he stated.

    Femi Lawson, a participant as well, stressed that Nigeria is getting to a point where the tourism industry would be run by foreigners.

    “It has happened to our crude oil already. We are getting to a point where the local tourism industry will be run by foreigners. We have to urgently take charge of our own narrative,” Femi said at NTW 2018.

    NTW is a multi-day tourism event platform that aims to drive the Nigeria tourism sector by bringing together buyers, consumers, travel techs, tourism/travel service providers and the media to network, review and discuss the development of tourism in the country.