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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS ) to ensure strict migration guidelines for intending entrants to the country.
He stated this on the occasion of the 60th anniversary ceremony and awards evening organised by Imo State Command of NIS in Owerri.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, urged NIS to be more proactive about issues of illegal migration with a view to preventing movement of unauthorised migrants, especially terrorists from the Sahel. He said illegal migration, if left unchecked, could leave the country welcoming individuals with dangerous motives, thus contributing to insecurity.
“Nigerians must know who Nigerians are. A lot of people who enter Nigeria through porous borders have no good intentions for the country and pose serious security threat. You must therefore redouble your efforts in the area of border patrol and an insistence on strict immigration guidelines,” he said.
The anniversary lecturer, Chief Joachim Olumba, a retired Comptroller of Immigration, listed duties performed by the establishment to include attraction of foreign direct investments through the administration of the Nigerian Visa Policy as well as air border control among others.
He spoke on the theme: “Migration management in Nigeria, its essence and implication for national growth and development.”
Olumba congratulated NIS on another successful anniversary adding that it has been a story of many breakthroughs despite challenges
Earlier in an address, the Command’s Comptroller, Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu, thanked the governor for providing enabling environment for the activities of the Service in Imo and promised to work with relevant stakeholders in line with the mandate of the Service.
She disclosed that the state command can now issue passports to applicants within a week as long as they have been able to applied on – line and captured before the production day .
Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Zone “E”, Mrs Angela Okoye, commended men and officers of the Command for their patriotic sacrifices and assured them that the management of the Service will continue to restructure for improved services and welfare of officers.
Former minister of interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho (retd), urged the NIS to continue to build on their successes with a renewed commitment to national security.
The event was attended by all Heads of military and paramilitary outfits in Imo as well as religious leaders and traditional rulers.
High points of the event were the cutting of the anniversary cake and the presentation of awards of merit to distinguished persons for their outstanding contributions to society.
