NIS Registers 4,377 Migrants Nationwide
The Controller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Muhammad Babandede has disclosed that the service registered 4,377 migrants nationwide since the exercise began.
The NIS boss made this known during a press briefing at the Nigerian immigration Service Headquarters in Abuja.
He said the service recorded tremendous success in the migrant free e-registration exercise since inception in July.
“We are glad that migrants are turning out for the free e-registration exercise.
“We have so far recorded 2,175 in the Federal Capital and a total of 4,377 Nationwide. We are however optimistic that, before the presidential amnesty on the registration runs out, we will record a significant number of the irregular and regular migrants registered” he said.
Babandede added that the management will meticulously work with robust institutions in the country to support the cause in meeting contemporary and global Immigration standards.
“We have a strategic plan of working with traditional and religious institutions, civil society groups and NGO’s to work with us to ensure continuous turnout in the registration exercise because the process will contribute to national development” he noted.
He also lamented that, most of the registered people are irregular migrants covering over two thousand in the FCT thereby urging migrants to register before the amnesty period elapses to avoid being penalized.
“Based on our statistics, we have registered more irregular migrants; that is why we are capturing their biometrics because once your thumbs are captured, it cannot be change. Any person who refused to register and wants to leave the country will be charged for over-stay as a penalty”.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of the e-registration exercise, Controller Aliyu Ahmad Bauchi explains that, the initiative is designed to address minor violations of the Immigration Act by both regular and irregular migrants in the country.
Stressing that the initiative is part of the NIS institutional response to addressing so many issues tied to security, planning and other development processes and migrants have responded by coming out to register.
By PRNigeria
