Tag: NIS

COVID-19: NIS begins issuance of passports

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date May 4, 2020

The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has ordered passport offices nationwide to take advantage of the Federal Government phased easing of lockdown to release the processed passport to the applicants.

The Service Public Relations Officer (SPEO), Mr Sunday James, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

The Federal Government phased and gradual easing of Lockdown was effective from Monday.

NAN also reports that Babandede had during the lock down period directed all the passport offices nationwide to clear all passport backlog for applicants enrolled for immediate issuance when the lock down is lifted.

” NIS has directed applicants to follow the NCDC directive on social distancing, wearing of facemask, washing of hands using soap, use of hand sanitizers among others at the point of collection of the passport.

“Applicants are to be invited in batches via SMS, anyone invited will show proof of invitation before they are allowed into the premises which must coincide with the date scheduled for the respective applicant to turn up and collect their passport.

“Any passport applicant who did not receive SMS need not visit the passport office until they are invited via SMS to avoid unnecessary crowding and refusal of entry at the entrance to the passport offices, ” he said.

Tags Covid-19, NIS, passports

NEWS & LIFE

NIS receives 13 Nigerian returnees from Togo

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date April 26, 2020

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has received 13 Nigerians that arrived from Lome, Togo at Seme-Krake joint border post.

The Spokesman, NIS, Mr Sunday James, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said that the returnees were technicians that went to install industrial machines in Togo.

According to James, the 13 returnees have been handed over to officials of the Ministry of Health in Lagos for medical test.

“Also for isolation in line with NCDC directives on medical procedures for new arrivals into the country to curtail the spread of Corona Virus,” he said.

James said that Seme-Krake was a major entry-exit point into and out of Nigeria, bordering Benin Republic, adding that NIS was not taking chances in enforcing strict border patrol.

He said that the service would apprehend anyone that wanted to circumvent the approved routes, hence the numbers that have been turning up through the Seme-Krake border post since the border closure.

He said that the NIS Comptroller General, Mr Muhammad Babandede has advised the returnees to avoid following bush paths as well as the experience of suffering in the hands of criminals in an effort to follow unrecognized routes risking.

Tags NIS, Togo

NEWS & LIFE

NIS hands over seized drug to NAFDAC in Adamawa

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date April 25, 2020

NIS implements procedures on International flights resumption — NIS

The Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) on Saturday in Yola handed over 23 packages of siezed Diazapam, a dangerous drug, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Speaking during the handover, Muhammed Babandede, Comptroller General of Immigration, said the drug was seized from a Cameronian who tried to sneak it into Nigeria.

Babandede, represented by Muhammed Hassan, Controller of Immigration in charge of Adamawa, said the suspect was arrested on April 14, at Wuro Boki, a village on Nigeria–Cameron border check point.

”On 14 April, 2020, our patrol team along the Cameronian border with Nigeria, around Wuro Boki area intercepted a Cameronian man carrying 23 packages of Diazapam.

”After thorough investigation the suspect confessed to have been taking the drugs into Yola, Adamawa State Capital, for so long ” he said.

Babandede said that after investigation, and based on advice of the port health authority for the immediate repatriation of the Cameronian, he was handed over to the Cameronian authority on 17 April.

The comptroller general said that NIS was making efforts to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

He appealed to the citizens of the state, especially those on border areas, to give maximum cooperation to the security operatives.

In his remark, Mr.Jamilu Audu, the state Controller of NAFDAC, expressed delight at the working synergy between sister government agencies.

According to Audu, Diazepam is being misused to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures.

” It is also used to relieve muscle spasms and to provide sedation before medical procedures as well as calm the brain and nerves.

”Diazepam belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines”, he said.

Audu commended the personnel of the Nigeria immigration service for their vigilance and dedication in carrying out their responsibilities.

“The arrest and seizure of this dangerous drug was a great achievement in the fight against counterfeit drugs and related items.

“NAFDAC is overwhelmed with the good synergy between sister government agencies in the state,” he said.

Audu said the agency would not relent in its effort to make Nigeria safe and free from counterfeits and other conterminous food

Tags NAFDAC, NIS

BUSINESS

COVID-19: NIS extends suspension of passport processing, migrants e-registration

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date April 23, 2020

The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has ordered the extension of the temporary suspension of processing of passport and migrant e-registration from the 23rd April to 23rd May.

Babandede gave the order in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPEO), Mr Sunday James, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the order came in pursuance of the government’s directives on restrictions on international flight and closure of land borders.

“The measures adopted by the Government to restrict movement and curb the spread of COVID-19 is still enforced.

“This order is in view of the Federal Government further extension in order to give the situation the deserved attention and approach, considering the successes achieved and the need to drastically reduce the spread.

“Meanwhile, the Service is taking advantage of this period to process all pending passport cases and the public will be duly informed when they are ready for collection at the expiration of the restriction order,” Babandede said.

The Comptroller General said the Service regrets any inconvenience caused the general public.

Tags Covid-19, NIS

NEWS & LIFE Uncategorized

No one has entered Nigeria through Oyo borders – NIS

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date April 14, 2020

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oyo State Command, says it is strictly enforcing President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on total land border closure as no one has been able to enter or go out of the country through the borders in the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officers (PRO), Olufemi Adetunji, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Adetunji said that the NIS Comptroller in the state, Saley Abdulllahi, just returned from a tour of all the borders in the state to ensure that there was full compliance with the president’s directive.

He said that the visit was also aimed at motivating the officers and further educating them on the need to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

The spokesman said no one was allowed to gain entrance or go out of the country through Oyo State borders since the government’s directive.

He said that officers and men of the command were on 24 hours patrol of both the legal and illegal border routes in the state.

“One or two people that wanted to come in or go out of the country through the state land borders were sent back. Some took to their heels on sighting the officers and men of the command.

“We don’t need to arrest them; we just send them back immediately to prevent the spread of the virus in the country,” Adetunji said.

He said that all the land borders in the state had been closed to ensure that no foreigners or immigrants passed through them.

Adetunji said that the command had deployed patrol vehicles and motorcycles in addition to the joint patrol earlier initialted by the Federal Government.

He said the joint patrol comprised Customs, Department of State Services (DSS) and Immigration, among others, to ensure no foreigners entered the state.

“The officers while working during this period are also following the guidelines on COVID-19 to avoid being infected with the virus.

“So far so good; none of the NIS officers in Oyo state has been infected with the virus.

“I urge Nigerians to obey the directives and as well follow the guidelines against COVID-19 so as not to be infected or spread the virus. It is when you are alive that you can pursue your businesses.

“If people are allowed to move around and are infected with the virus, we may not be able to curb the situation,” he said

Tags NIS, Oyo

NEWS & LIFE

NIS Imo set to commence e-registration of immigrants

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date November 25, 2019

Mr David Ringshum, the Comptroller, Imo Command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has advised irregular migrants to register during the oncoming Migrant e-Registration scheduled to start in the state on Nov. 26.

Ringshum gave the advice when the staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri Office paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Owerri.

He said that strict measures would be taken against defaulters after the deadline of the registration on Jan. 11, 2020.

Ringshum said that the equipment for the programme had just been installed in Imo, while the exercise had been ongoing in other parts of the country.

The comptroller said that all avenues had been explored to ensure that those who were affected were duly informed of the exercise to ensure its success.

He said that leaders of ECOWAS communities like Togo, Niger, Chad and Benin Republic had been properly educated on the need to encourage their citizens in Nigeria to comply with the exercise.

Mrs Uju Ezenyi, the Deputy Comptroller of NIS in charge of Passport Office, in her contribution, said the e-registration for migrants was to promote togetherness and business establishments in Nigeria.

She said the move would make it easier to track activities of foreigners in the country for the duration of their stay.

Ezenyi said hat the exercise was also in line with the service compliance in the promotion of businesses in the country.

Earlier, the NAN State Correspondent, Chidi Opara, who led the staff to NIS, described NAN as “mother of all media houses” in the country providing them with objective and informed news.

She said they were in NIS to reinforce partnership with the service and asked for their cooperation.

Tags Imo, NIS

NEWS & LIFE

E-migrant registration: NIS registers 4,506 migrants in Oyo

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date November 6, 2019

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oyo State Command, says it has so far registered 4,506 migrants since the commencement of e-migrant registration in the state on Aug. 30.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had issued a January 2020 deadline for all foreigners in Nigeria to register.

The NIS Comptroller in the state, Saleh Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Abdullahi said the turnout of migrants in the state on a daily basis was highly impressive.

“Infact, we registered 140 migrants per day and we have registered a total of 4,506 migrants so far comprising of 802 regular and 3,704 irregular migrants.

“Regular migrants are those with valid papers to live in Nigeria, that is those with ECOWAS Resident Card or Resident Permit while irregular are those without valid papers to live in Nigeria.

“All regular and irregular migrants must register before Jan. 11, 2020 deadline and anyone that failed to register within this period risk N500,000 fine or three months imprisonment or both,” Abdullahi said.

The state comptroller said that the only challenge faced currently by the command was that it only has one centre throughout the state where the registration is taking place.

Abdullahi said the command in order to register all the migrants in the state before the deadline now closed by 8 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. and sometime work on Saturday.

“We have Division Immigration Officer (DIO) whose duty is to educate the migrants on the importance of e-migrant registration so that they can come to the state command to register before the deadline.

“We pledged to register all the migrants within this window period,” the comptroller said.

Tags NIS, Oyo

NEWS & LIFE

NIS rolls out enhanced E-passport in Kano

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date October 28, 2019

Touting: FG to deploy undercover agents at passport offices nationwide

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has commenced issuance of the enhanced E-passport at the Kano Main Passport Office located at Farm Centre, Kano.

The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Mr Sunday James made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the enhanced e-Passport was presented to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and his wife during the official roll out of the document.

He said that the governor congratulated the Service for introducing technology in its processes.

“Ganduje said that the introduction of the enhanced E-Passport is a practical evident of President Buhari’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business that will take the country to the next level,“ he said.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller General, Mr Muhammad Babandede, stated that the philosophy behind the introduction of the enhanced E-passport was national security and ease of doing business.

Babandede, who was represented by Assistant Comptroller General (NIS), TV Oyedeji, said that the document has additional 25 security features including the National Identification Number (NIN).

The Kano Passport Office is the second formation to roll out the document outside Abuja in a gradual roll out programme designed to ensure seamless transition to the new platform.

Tags Kano, NIS, passport

NEWS & LIFE

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

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date October 24, 2019

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 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.

Tags NIS

NEWS & LIFE

NIS unveils plan to curb irregular migration, human trafficking

Post author By Phenomenal
Post date October 7, 2019

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled a five year Border Management Strategy Plan (2019-2013) for effective policing and management of borders.

The strategic plan for the South South region was unveiled on Monday in Calabar by the Comptroller General of NIS, Mr Mohammed Babandede.

The Comptroller General was represented by ACG Funke Adeuyi, the lead focal person in the development of Border Management Strategy Plan.

Babandede revealed that the unveiling of the plan was to sensitise stakeholders in border management of the NIS renewed goals and vision in managing Nigerian borders which was one of the core areas of the service.

He said that movements across borders would no longer take place without valid travelling document with a view to curb irregular movements, human trafficking and other forms of crimes.

According to him, the implementation of the plan will involve the deployment of technology through the sea, land and air.

He said the plan would also help in the management of Nigerians that returns from foreign countries, management of travel document and Visa management policy.

“This strategy plan was drawn with the collaboration of all stakeholders. This plan will help NIS in ensuring that we have adequate data of movements across the borders, especially in the registration of migrants living in Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking, the Comptroller of NIS in Cross River, Mr Okey Ezugwu, said that the strategic plan was developed with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Ezugwu said that the plan would help the NIS in the effective management of Nigerian borders within the stipulated mandate as well as facilitate legitimate travels and trade.

He added that the plan would also help in preventing the entry of would-be terrorists and crimes like drug and human trafficking and significantly reduce irregular immigrants.

He urged Consul Generals of African countries present at the event to sensitive their nationals on the NIS National Border Management Strategy.

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, who was represented by his State Security Adviser, Mr Ani Esin, commended NIS and stakeholders in border management for coming up with the plan to ensure border security and safety.

The IOM Chief of Mission, Mr Frantz Celestin, who was represented by Mrs Ines Mutahobya, said that NIS had played an important role in migration data management and training of its personnel.

Tags Human trafficking, Immigration, NIS