Don’t Issue Passport To Terrorists, Kidnappers and other criminals – NIS Boss

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Martin Abeshi has cautioned Nigeria Immigration Service personnel against issuing travel passport to terrorists, kidnappers and other crooks.

He advised the authorities to screen travel permit applicants completely, focusing on that the punishment for unpredictable issuance of identification is stiff, noticing that any indicted officer would not be saved.

Handing down the warning at a meeting with senior authorities including border control and passprt authorities on Friday at the NIS base camp, Abuja, the Comptroller-General likewise guided his men to remove roadblocks at border areas and taking note of that they could screen outsiders coming into the nation without obstructing the street with logs and disused tires.

Abeshi said, “You must not engage in indiscriminate issuance of passports; you know that Nigeria is battling with terrorism now, you must therefore screen passport applicants thoroughly before issuing out passports.
“It is a security document and it must not be issued to kidnappers, terrorists and other criminals; penalty for doing this is very stiff, don’t say you have not been warned.

“I don’t also see any reason in the blocking of road by our officers, if you see any foreigner, ask him to alight from the vehicle, screen him and allow the vehicle to go, there is no need blocking the highway with wood and tyres, the police have stopped roadblock, don’t block the highway in whatever form.”

The immigration boss expressed displeasure over reports of corruption in the service, adding that he was sad anytime he read about the corrupt practices of NIS personnel in the newspapers.

He therefore asked the senior officers to deal with cases of misconduct and sharp practices by their subordinates even as he advised them to collaborate with other security agencies by sharing intelligence reports with them to make their job easier.

The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources, Henry Malgwi, asked the personnel to familiarise themselves with the 2015 NIS Act, noting that any officer caught engaging in malpractices would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

Punch.