The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says that in 2014, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport command stopped 238 Nigerians from leaving the country for several reasons, while 297 foreigners were also refused admission into the country.
Chizoba Dibi, comptroller, Lagos airport command, NIS, who spoke at the maiden visit of new comptroller general, maintained that the command in 2014 received 5,149 Nigerians deported from various countries under regular deportees notice with 900 special deportees.
Besides, she said the command in the year under review repatriated 12 foreigners with Nigerian returnees totalling 2,902, saying the command in 2014 earned $704,058, while airlines – foreign and local – owed it $654,000, and it owed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) N61,273.00.
Meanwhile, Martins Abeshi, new comptroller-general, NIS, has ordered the immediate suspension of inspection of immigration documents by its officers, saying the action portrayed unprofessionalism.
He also threatened to sack corrupt officers in the system if they do not change from their dastardly acts.
Speaking at his maiden visit to the Lagos airport command on Thursday, Abeshi said the service had received several complaints of visitations to companies, particularly in Lagos, by the service command under the guise of inspecting immigration documents.
He said the officers most times carried out their duties in unprofessional manners, which soiled the image of NIS before the public, stressing that following the complaints; NIS had immediately suspended such inspections until it would produce a new template for the exercise.
“Anybody that disobeys this order would be dealt with in accordance with the Federal Civil Service Rules and Regulations. Furtherance to this, I have received with dismay negative reports on unethical conduct of some of you who solicit for gratifications and engaged in rumour mongering, unguided utterances and comments. This is not only embarrassing, but also destroys the image of the service. The situation is totally unacceptable and must stop.
“I expect all officers and men to conduct themselves with utmost decorum as we collectively build a solid and sustainable anti-corruption culture for the service and assist the present administration realise its primary objectives of a secured and prosperous Nigeria.”
