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Tag: NIS

  • NIS promotes 4,797 personnel, issues 24,840 visas

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Monday said it had promoted 4,797 officers and service men as part of comprehensive campaign to boost the morale of its personnel.

    The Comptroller General, Alhaji Muhammad Babandede, disclosed this at the inauguration of the 2018 Comptroller General Annual Conference in Maiduguri.

    Babandede disclosed that 3,405 officers and men, who suffered unnecessary stagnation, were promoted to the next ranks while 1,392 others were promoted through conversion and upgrade.

    He revealed that comptrollers and other senior officers were exposed to leadership skills and junior officers were trained on administrative skills while retiring officers were also trained in the past one year.

    Babandede added that a new curriculum had been introduced in its training schools to build the capacity of its personnel to enable them to discharge their duties effectively, adding that the service accorded priority to the training of personnel.

    He said: “we have continued to make steady progress in the discharge of our statutory mandates over the years and it resulted in some formidable reforms that placed NIS very predominantly in the nation’s security and economic development indices”.

    Babandede said that the service had also adopted proactive visa reforms in line with global best practices, to deal with cumbersome processes and ease difficulties encounter in visa processing.

    The CG revealed that 24,840 approvals for Visa on Arrival (VoA) and 7,114 temporary work permit were issued since January.

    He added that biometric visa had commenced in 17 missions and would be deployed to airports.

    According to him, the Federal Government has approved a new ‘polycarbonate e-passport’ with a 10-year validity, which would be unveiled in December.

    Babandede explained that about 25 features were added to the new booklet for enhanced security with the support of its partners ISTIL.

    “It is not enough to launch a new document if the process to acquire it is deficient. In this regards, we are tackling the problem of lost passports seriously,” he said.

    He called on the people to desist from fraudulent acts while applying for issuance of passport, warning that erring applicants and officers would be prosecuted.

    On infrastructure development, Babandede disclosed that the service had initiated various projects to create an enabling operational environment for its personnel and transform its services.

    The CG disclosed that modern office accommodation were inaugurated in Kano and Jigawa, while similar projects were ongoing in Plateau, Imo, Nasarawa, Gombe, Enugu and Ekiti States.

    Babandede said office and barrack space facilities at Seme, Idi-Iroko, Mazanya-Jibiya, Imeko and Illela as well as Maigatari, Shaki and Seme would soon be commissioned.

    He said that the essence of the Forward Border Patrol Base was to enhance surveillance and check dangerous movement in the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea.

    The service, he added, also implemented Information and Data Analysis Platform (MIDAS) at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu International Airports, to enhance security and processing of migrants’ data.

    “The Federal Government last week approved N7 billion for construction of and furnishing of Technology Building. The building will revolutionise our jobs, all data in one house interfacing with each other.

    “We have taken delivery of 114 patrol vehicles; 93 flag cars, 14 buses four ambulances, 9 trucks and 12 SUVs for passport operations and distributed officers and operational units,” he added.

  • NIS to commence issuance of Nigerian passport with 10-year in December

    Mr Mohammed Babandede, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has said that the issuance of Nigerian Passport with 10 years validity will commence in December, 2018.
     
    Babandede made the disclosure when he visited Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state on Monday in Ibadan.
     
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the immigration boss and some senior officers were in Ibadan for the first International Conference on Border In-Transition at the University of Ibadan.
     
    He explained that the new passport would have features that could stand the test of time, adding that it would run concurrently with the old ones.
     
    “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the new passport with 10 years validity.
     
    “We have also repositioned and improved on our services as directed by the president,” he said.
     
    Babandede said NIS had also improved accessibility to visa through the introduction of Visa-on-Arrival for immigrants whose country was without an embassy.
     
    “We have initiated the centralization of Temporary Work Permit for immigrants who are in the country for a temporary assignment as well as made it easy for women to do change of name across the states.
     
    “We have also introduced forward-front-border patrol to curtail activities of smugglers and criminals within the border areas.
     
    “We will continue to ensure adequate security of the border and country at large,” he said.
     
    He said that the president had directed that NIS officers should patronize the bushes unlike the street patrol system which operated before his administration.
     
    In his response, Ajimobi charged NIS to ensure regular monitoring of the nation’s borders for the sustenance of peace in the country.
     
    Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, admonished the NIS boss to initiate policies towards checking illegal immigrants into the country.
     
    He urged them to improve on border policing and ensure recruitment of credible people into the service

  • Murray-Bruce calls for Senator Dino Melaye’s immediate release

    Common sense advocate and Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has called for the immediate release of his colleague representing Kogi West, Senator Dino Melaye.

    TheNewsGuru reports Senator Melaye was arrested on Monday morning on a Morocco-bound flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Senator Murray-Bruce in a statement shortly after Melaye was arrested described the Kogi West Senator as “one of the few voices left that still speaks truth to power”.

    “Dino Melaye played a major role in bringing this government into being. It will be very unfortunate if the same government he fought for turns around to be the one fighting him.

    “I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dino Melaye. He is one of the few voices left that still speaks truth to power.

    “Nigeria needs men like that and the Dino I know will not be cowed by arrest or persecution,” Murray-Bruce.

    Senator Melaye has been linked to an alleged proliferation of arms in Kogi state, which led to the Nigerian Police Force declaring him wanted in March.

    “Stopped from traveling and under arrest. No retreat no surrender. Talk we must,” Melaye said shortly after he was arrested.

    Confirming the development, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said the Senator was arrested “based on instruction”.

     

  • Senator Dino Melaye: Arrest “based on instruction” – NIS

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday morning.

    Spokesman of the Service, Mr Sunday James, told the News Agency of Nigeria that Melaye was arrested by Immigration officials “based on instruction”.

    The confirmation came hours after the senator, who represents Kogi West, announced the arrest on his Twitter handle at 7:32 a.m.

    “I have just been arrested at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Government after checking in,” he tweeted.

    The police recently declared Melaye wanted after he was accused of supplying arms to some murder suspects, who allegedly implicated him.

    The senator denies the allegations, which he describes as politically motivated.

     

  • NIS set to launch Passport to Safe Migration

    NIS set to launch Passport to Safe Migration

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says all arrangements are now in place to launch its enlightenment handbook called Passport to Safe Migration with Edo state picked as a pilot city for the launch.

    The new Comptroller of the NIS, Edo State Command, Mr. Kayode Eniolohunda revealed this when himself and other senior officials of the Service paid a courtesy visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State Capital.

    The Edo State Comptroller of the NIS expressed the Command’s support for the governor’s policies, far-reaching reforms as well as the fight against illegal migration.

    “We hope to launch this programme in collaboration with other stakeholders, particularly the Edo State Taskforce on Human Trafficking, which has done wonderfully well within the short period of its establishment,” he said.

    Receiving the NIS entourage, Governor Obaseki reiterated the state government’s commitment to curbing the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration.

    Obaseki noted that his administration will be counting on the support of the Service, particularly in the areas of investigation and prosecution.

    He said, “With the feelers we have received so far, we are confident that human trafficking will be reduced by at least 50 percent before the end of this year.

    “We are encouraged by the support received from the European Union and have agreed to have a conference in the state before June this year, where we will reveal all the steps taken to deal with human trafficking and illegal migration.”

    He said he has directed the local governments to secure office spaces for officers of the Service to enable them integrate properly into the state’s security architecture.

    The governor added that he will continue to work with the Service to secure Visas and other necessary documents for foreign investors coming into the state for business.

     

  • 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.

     

  • Police, NIS sign MoU on Interpol

    The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS), on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the extension of the use of INTERPOL i-24/7 to the service.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris who was represented by the DIG in charge of Operations, Mr Habila Joshak signed on behalf of the police.

    The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Muhammed Babandede who signed on behalf of the service, was also represented by Mr Raymond Jaja, Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration in charge of border management.

    Idris said that the signing of the MoU would afford other law enforcement agencies in the country access to critical intelligence information on the organisation’s system.

    He also said that the initiative would allow the conduct of joint national and transnational operational collaboration and as well capacity building between the agencies.

    “This access when fully operational will optimally lead to a corresponding increase in the arrest of fugitives, wanted persons among others.

    He added that the office of the National Security Adviser has promised to implement the programme through coordinated meetings.

    The police boss said that plans were at advance stage to present MoU and other INTERPOL documents to all relevant law enforcement agencies in the country,

    He said that the collaboration between the agencies would enhance the operations of their officers on the field.

    Idris noted that sharing of intelligence information had nothing to do with superiority of service.

    Babandede said that the signing of the MoU was an index to the commitment of the Federal Government to end criminality in the country.

    He assured that the service would implement the MoU in view of the security challenge in the country.

    The immigration boss also said that it gives the service a better opportunity to fish out criminally minded persons who come into the country illegally.

    “The Nigeria Immigration Service will be more than ever prepared to share this synergy with other law enforcement agencies in the country,” he said.

    In his remark, the Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL, Mr Olushola Subair said that the MoU was aimed at intensifying the fight against crimes in the country.

    He said that the NIS was an important ally to the police in fighting crimes in the country.

    Subair added that with the signing of the MoU, criminals would no longer have any hiding place in the country.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the NIS was the first law enforcement agency to sign the MoU.

    TheNewsGuru also reports that the IG officially inaugurated the refurbished National Central Bureau Headquarters, Abuja and the upgrade of INTERPOL in January.

     

  • Slave trade: NAPTIP, NIS, partner EU, others on trafficking, migration in Nigeria

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, have partnered with the European Union, EU, the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, on how to combat illegal migration and human trafficking in the country.

    The Director General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, represented by the Director Research/ Programme Development, Godwin Mouka, said there was no better time than now for the country to wake up and combat illegal migration.

    This, Ms. Okah-Donli said, was vital especially with the growing increase of Nigerians illegally travelling abroad through illegal channels.

    She said the Act prohibiting illegal migration /traffic in persons had really assisted the agency in carrying out its professional responsibilities of fighting illegal migration and trafficking in the country.

    She said the Act had also enabled the agency to prosecute traffickers as well as assist trafficking victims.

    The director general said the partnership with foreign organisations had really improved the services of the agency, especially in the area of prosecution.

    She said the agency had been able to embark on public enlightenment campaign, especially in the rural areas urging people to desist from such act as it was punishable by law.

    Ms. Okah-Donli said to enable the agency to carry out its professional responsibilities, it had embarked on training and retraining of personnel for effective and efficient service delivery.

    She said NAPTIP was ever ready to synergise and cooperate with relevant agencies in the discharge of its duties, especially because of the challenge trafficking/ illegal migration posed.

    The Officer-in-charge, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Elisabeth Bayer, said the office was partnering with NAPTIP and NIS to assist the country in combating the menace.

    Mrs. Bayer also commended Nigeria for establishing an Act prohibiting human trafficking and illegal migration in the country.

    Also, the Deputy Head of EU to Nigeria/ECOWAS, Richard Young , said the organisation was in partnership with NAPTIP and NIS to remove the ugly side of illegal migration in Nigeria.

    Mr. Young said that the task of the EU was to minimise the risk involved and the implications of human trafficking and illegal migration.

    He promised to continue to assist Nigeria where and when necessary in its quest to combat the menace that was on the increase.

    The Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, who was represented by Justina Tekkune, Deputy Comptroller Immigration (DCI), said the partnership was timely and a good thing to happen to Nigeria.

    Mr. Babandede also commended the international organisations for their efforts at making sure that Nigeria overcomes the challenges of human trafficking and illegal migration.

    He promised to sustain the relationship for the good of the service and the country.

    The Head of Missions, IOM, Charles Harns, commended Nigeria for being proactive in combating the challenge human trafficking and illegal migration posed to the country in recent times.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that the partnership will go a long way in reducing human trafficking and illegal migration in the country,” Mr. Harns said.

     

  • Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo criticize resurgence of slavery in Africa

    Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo criticize resurgence of slavery in Africa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday, criticized the resurgence of slavery in some parts of Africa, saying that the development was worrisome.

    Speaking at the 2017 Annual Conference of the Comptroller General of Immigration held at the MITROS Residences in Abeokuta, Obasanjo said that slave trade in the 21st century should be condemned in the strongest term possible.

    The theme for the conference was : ” Managing Migration and Facilitating Trade and Development in 21st Century Nigeria : NIS’ Perspective”.

    The former president noted that the current development in Africa should be a sober reflection for African leaders.

    He explained that the leaders must feel a sense of regret on what they ought to do, what they had done and what they had not done.

    “I believe that slave trade in the 21st century should be condemned in the strongest language possible and nobody who is involved in it should be excused.

    “What can we do and what must we do? We must ensure that conducive atmosphere is created for genuine exchange of goods and ensure development within our country, sub-region, continent and the world which we live.

    “But then today, migration has a very nasty connotation particularly when you watch the television and you hear the story of thousands of our youths daring to go through the desert.

    “Then after they have embark on such perilous journeys, some of them are sold as slaves. Slaves in the 21st century, Africans being sold by Africans and maybe to Africans.

    “All of us as leaders must feel a sense of regret and have sober reflection on what we have done or what we have not done to bring this about to our own people, ” he said.

    Obasanjo, charged the men of the NIS to imbibe the culture of training, professionalism, integrity, loyalty, and service, saying that all these must not be taken for granted.

    In his address, the Comptroller – General of NIS , Muhammad Babandede, said that the service was committed to safe and regular migration of Nigerian citizens and foreigners.

    He disclosed that the current issue being witnessed in Libya was not new to the NIS and it had regularly engaged in measures and activities to reduce the menace.

    Babandede however warned travel agencies, individuals and officers in the passport offices at various borders who are engaged in smuggling of migrants to desist from it, saying anybody found wanting would be made to face the law.

    He said that the service have some cases of smuggling under investigation, urging his men to step -up their activities through intelligence gathering, speedy investigations to allow the law to take its full course .

    Babandede added that starting January, 2018, the National Identity Number would be part of requirements for issuance of Nigerian passport with the National Identity Management Commission.

    He noted that the aim of the conference was to review the E- passport, after 10 years of its introduction in order to better the services they rendered.

    “I wish to state that NIS is committed to safe and regular migration to prevent the sad stories of loss of lives and sources of Nigerian citizens and others, occasioned by the desperate journey through the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean sea.

    “The recent media revelations of the sad events in Libya are not new to the NIS and we had regularly engaged in measures and activities to reduce the menace in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, ” he said.

    Earlier, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun who declared the conference open, also condemned the resurrection of slave trade in Libya, saying that African leaders should rise to condemn the act.

    Amosun charged all the participants at the conference to see the programme as an avenue to brainstorm and come up with practical solutions that would be of benefits to the Nigerians and the country.

    NAN

  • NIS indicts Justice Ngwuta, accuses him of using multiple passports illegally

    The Nigeria Immigration Service on Friday told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that Sylvester Ngwuta, a suspended justice of the Supreme Court used two similar standard international passports interchangeably.

    A senior staff of the service, Mr Tanko Kutana, made the claim while being cross-examined by counsel for the defendant, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

    Ngwuta was among seven superior court judges that were arrested between Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, 2016, after the DSS raided their homes in what it termed a “sting operation.”

    The defendant is alleged to have been in possession of multiple standard travel passports and stashed foreign currencies in his Abuja home.

    The witness said the service was not in the position to doubt the defendant when he showed proof of his missing international passport.

    According to him, the service subsequently issued him a new one, based on the strength of the affidavit declaring his old passport missing.

    Kutana, however, said the service was taken aback to discover that the defendant was using the two passports stamped with visas simultaneously.

    When asked if the action could have been a mistake from the defendant, the witness said the action violated immigration law.

    He said it was outright illegality to have and use two standard passports with similar registration number interchangeably.

    “My Lord, the new passport was issued to Justice Ngwuta by the Immigration Service, having been convinced that he actually lost the first one.

    “The service replaced the lost passport because it had no cause to doubt the affidavit evidence deposed to by the defendant when he reported the loss of the document,’’ Kutana said.

    He said the defendant failed to report back to the service when he eventually found the missing passport.

    “The forensic report shows that the defendant, Ngwuta using the two standard passports interchangeable, at the time of his arrest on Oct. 7, 2016 by the operatives of the Department of State Service.

    “We would not have been here if the defendant had returned the recovered passport to the service when he found it,’’ he said.

    The witness who confirmed that four diplomatic passports and two standard passports were found in the possession of the defendant, however, said the forensic analysis on the six passports did not show evidence of forgery

    “I did the analysis on the six passports to determine whether there was forgery and by the time I concluded my analysis of the passports I found no evidence of forgery in any of them,’’ the witness said.

    He said there were circumstances under which a citizen could have more than one passport, adding that it did not include having two similar ones.

    Justice John Tsoho adjourned the trial until Oct. 20.