Border closure has enabled us to arrest many wanted suspects, says NIS boss

• Hitches in enhanced electronic passport explained

THE Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service
(NIS), Muhammadu Babandede, has said the many “wanted suspects”
have been arrested following the partial closure of the country’s
borders.

The NIS chief spoke at the weekend at the closing of the
service’s management retreat in Lagos.

Babandede said the new border management strategy unveiled by
the Muhammadu Buhari administration would streamline activities at
the borders and ensure that people exiting or entering the country
utilise the official border posts with the right travel
documents.

The NIS chief said the government was not shutting the borders
to bar people from carrying out legitimate business but needed to
ensure that appropriate things are done the legitimate way, in line
with rules governing border security control and management.

He said: “To the Immigration, the border drill, which led to
this partial closure, is very important. One, it ensures people
pass through the recognised entry portals. Even our ECOWAS members
have been told to come to Nigeria anytime they wish but they must
come through a recognised point of entry, provided you have the
right travel documents.”

Babandede clarified some issues on the enhanced electronic
international passport, which has been rectified in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).

He said Immigration had made samples of the new passports
available to all embassies since March and that many Nigerians had
travelled far and wide with it.

The NIS chief noted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry was in
charge of ensuring a hitch-free delivery of samples to all
countries.

Babandede said: “I want Nigerians to appreciate that these
passports have been launched for a very long time, and Nigerians
have travelled everywhere with it. I’ve travelled to Hajj with it
and I passed through Dubai, using the Emirates.

“Dubai is not the only country in the world. There was a hitch
of delivery, probably from the Foreign Affairs Ministry because we
don’t make contact directly with the embassy. Samples have been
issued since March. Passports have been issued through the Foreign
Affairs Ministry since March. We have sent out the samples and
specimen to all countries through the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.

“I’m glad we have sorted it out with Abu Dhabi. It’s not even
Dubai; people who take Emirates do not have this problem. Those who
have problems are those with aircraft going to Abu Dhabi. But that
has been sorted out. There is only one country we don’t have issues
with abot the documents. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has sorted it
out with the embassy of the United Arab Emirates. This has been
rectified. So, it’s not our fault.”

Reacting to the 48-hour directive for travel documents to be
approved for applicants, the comptroller general said it was a
mandate NIS was given.

He added that the agency would do all in its power to comply
with the directive, especially when it surmounts the challenge of
booklet unavailability.

Babandede said: “I explained to the minister that the greatest
problem we have for inability to comply with the 48-hour directive
is the lack of booklets. I assure you if they start producing, we
will do our best, especially in the new places. You know we have
started rolling out the passports in Ikoyi, Lagos. Most places have
the passport booklets. In two weeks, we will roll out in Kano.

“But what he said is: ‘If there are no problems – and that has
been the directive of Mr. President under Executive Order 01 – that
if you fix your timeline, if there is a problem, get back to the
applicant. This is why we are doing the retreat. We want to be able
to create connectivity; we want to encourage people to pay
online.

“After capturing, that is the beginning of the 72 hours. And if
we cannot deliver, we should be able to call in or send a text
message, stating the particular reason. If there is no booklet, we
should be able to say it; or, if your fingerprint didn’t capture
well or the document you submitted is bad or you have already got
another passport, it has been rejected.

“It is expected of us, by order of the Minister and Mr.
President, that we respond. If there are issues, we should be able
to identify these and apologise. There has to be contact between us
and the customers,” he said.

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