The Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS ) has said that a lot of
fake marriages are taking place between Nigerians and foreigners in
the country.
Mr Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller General of the agency stated
this on Wednesday in Abuja, saying that male foreigners were mostly
involved in the act.
He spoke at an operational review meeting with Zonal
Coordinators and State Comptrollers of the agency at its national
headquarters.
Babandede said their aim was to cheat the conditions for the
issuance of residence and work permits to foreigners by the
agency.
“We have observed that foreigners, especially men, are trying to
beat the system of issuance of residence permits.
“A lot of fake or ‘arrangee’ marriages are going on, and that
would give them permission to stay in this country without much
liabilities.
“The advantage is that when you are the spouse of a Nigerian,
you have no limitation on the job you will do; you don’t have to
pay residence permit fees; it is easier for you to stay.
“So, we are beginning to face difficulties because many people
are becoming married on temporary ground,” Babandede said.
The NIS boss said the agency had arrested some culprits, and
would tighten the conditions for the issuance of permits to check
the abuse.
He said that as part of the measures to check the abuse, the
agency would henceforth monitor marriages between Nigerians and
foreigners in the country.
“We will not allow any person to come for holiday marriage,
because we have also observed that people just come on holidays,
arrange marriages in Nigeria and go back.
“We will not allow that anymore; you have to stay for a period
of six months after marriage before you get our residence
permit.
“You have to also enter with permission to stay in Nigeria, so
you must come with the residency visa; you can’t come as a tourist
and get married,’’ he said.
Babandede further said that the agency was also planning to
restrict foreign spouses to jobs for which Nigerians lacked the
requisite skills and qualifications.
He stated that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of
Interior and the NIS, was looking into the issue, which he
described as a national security threat.
NAN
The Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS ) has said that a lot of
fake marriages are taking place between Nigerians and foreigners in
the country.
Mr Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller General of the agency stated
this on Wednesday in Abuja, saying that male foreigners were mostly
involved in the act.
He spoke at an operational review meeting with Zonal
Coordinators and State Comptrollers of the agency at its national
headquarters.
Babandede said their aim was to cheat the conditions for the
issuance of residence and work permits to foreigners by the
agency.
“We have observed that foreigners, especially men, are trying to
beat the system of issuance of residence permits.
“A lot of fake or ‘arrangee’ marriages are going on, and that
would give them permission to stay in this country without much
liabilities.
“The advantage is that when you are the spouse of a Nigerian,
you have no limitation on the job you will do; you don’t have to
pay residence permit fees; it is easier for you to stay.
“So, we are beginning to face difficulties because many people
are becoming married on temporary ground,” Babandede said.
The NIS boss said the agency had arrested some culprits, and
would tighten the conditions for the issuance of permits to check
the abuse.
He said that as part of the measures to check the abuse, the
agency would henceforth monitor marriages between Nigerians and
foreigners in the country.
“We will not allow any person to come for holiday marriage,
because we have also observed that people just come on holidays,
arrange marriages in Nigeria and go back.
“We will not allow that anymore; you have to stay for a period
of six months after marriage before you get our residence
permit.
“You have to also enter with permission to stay in Nigeria, so
you must come with the residency visa; you can’t come as a tourist
and get married,’’ he said.
Babandede further said that the agency was also planning to
restrict foreign spouses to jobs for which Nigerians lacked the
requisite skills and qualifications.
He stated that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of
Interior and the NIS, was looking into the issue, which he
described as a national security threat.
NAN
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