Minister Confirms Bad Eggs In Immigration Service
OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has assured that the difficulty associated with either obtaining or renewing passports would soon be over.
The minister stated this at the monthly breakfast meeting organized by the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce in Lagos.
Aregbesola explained that though there are bad eggs in the Immigration Service who are unrelenting in frustrating the easy process of obtaining passport, the government is doing everything to “End the culture of rent taking in all passport offices across Nigeria.”
He cautioned renewal applicants to always ensure they begin the process six months ahead.
“Don’t wait till your passport expires before you begin renewal process. Passport should have six months validity. At the moment, there is no fast track service for passport renewal,” he disclosed.
The Minister who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Strategy and Innovation, Mr. Ademola Adeyinka emphasized that the Nigerian passport “With over 50 features is designed to be the best the world.”
Meanwhile, there have been reported cases of extortion allegedly perpetrated by officers of the NIS at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The development made the Comptroller-General, Isah Idris, to order the investigation of a case following a recent outcry on Twitter by a Dubai-bound Nigerian, who alleged massive extortion of under-40 Nigerians travelling to the Gulf city.
Idris also ordered “the withdrawal” of the entire shift on duty at the time of the incident.
In a tweet on October 14, 2022, a user with the handle name @darbyy alleged that she paid the sum of N10,000 to the immigration officers before her passport was stamped.
This was despite presenting her UAE visa at the immigration booth.
She also alleged that the extortion scheme is targeted at Nigerians perceived to be below 40 as older travelers do not face such treatment.
“It was then I noticed all the people they had brought to this (separate) aisle were young and going to Dubai. It was all a plan to use fear to exploit us. The couple got their passport stamped after paying. Oga turned to me and said “it’s in your hands. How much do you have?” wrote the tweep.
Responding to the development, the NIS in a statement said: “Following the recent allegation by a Dubai-bound Nigerian citizen of sharp practices by some Personnel during passenger clearance which occurred about 3 weeks ago at the Lagos Airport, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Isah Idris, MFR, has ordered an investigation into the matter.
“Furthermore, he ordered the withdrawal of the entire shift on duty at time of the incident to allow unhindered investigations. The Comptroller General wishes to use this opportunity to reiterate his administration’s zero tolerance for sharp practices and that such would be met with stiff sanctions to any staff found involved.
“The CGI hereby encourages members of the public to feel free to contact the Service through its various public communication channels, including twitter and Facebook handles @nigimmigration to lay complaints and report any misdemeanour by any member of staff for appropriate sanctions.”
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