Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to invent new approaches to protect Nigerians, saying such innovations would check several acts of terrorism currently perpetuated in the country.
Emmanuel who made the appeal on Thursday in Uyo during a Stakeholders’ Sensitization programme on the Nigeria Visa Policy Document (NVP 2020) organised by the state command of the NIS, said a robust and proactive Immigration Service can be used to forestall terrorist attacks.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo at the occasion commended the snergy between security agencies in the state and urged the Service to take a cue from the Unites States, which have made their Immigration Service part of their Department of Homeland Affairs to prevent a repeat of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attack.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is a critical member of the Nigerian Security architecture. In most of the advanced world, it is part of the first line of national defence, given the critical role it plays in admitting visitors through various ports of entries in those nations.
“In today’s world of asymmetric security situations, the seemingly innocent visitor you may have admitted into your country may be part of a terrorist sleeper cell. Such a visitor may have been sent by his or her sponsors with the expressed and evil command to cause a breach of public peace through acts of terrorism.
“The need therefore, for the Immigration Service to meet regularly, explore new approaches of protecting the nation, and thinking, anticipating and disrupting such evil designs has become even more urgent and imperative.” He explained.
Addressing the sensitization meeting, the acting Comptroller-General (CG) of Immigration, Isah Idris, represented by the Owerri Zonal Coordinator, ACG Ejiogu, said the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP 2020) is an ambitious document that would transform the economy of the country.
” In the document, we have expanded Visa classes from mere six to 79 classes in three new categories of Short Visit Visa (28 classes), Temporary Residence Visa (36 classes) and Permanent Residence Visa (15 classes).
“The major highlight of the document is that we now have Visa classes for every conceivable purpose of travel unlike before when we issue only business or work Visa to anyone desirous of coming into the country.” Idris explained.
The CG who said that Akwa Ibom is rated the Second Best State in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) rating after Lagos stressed that such could not have been possible without the enormous efforts of the state government.
He said there was however the need for increased collaboration for a more responsive and enduring security arrangement for the Blue Border areas of the state.
Akwa Ibom State Controller, George Didel in a remark bemoaned the high rate of human trafficking and crime of harvesting human parts in the state and pledged to redouble effort to tackle illegal migration in the state.
Didel also informed the public of an existence of ECOWAS passport which could enable them do businesses around West African Countries.
“A lot of people do not know of ECOWAS passport which could nelp you travel round West African Countries. It is most convenient to acquire because you can get in within few hours. You don’t have to wait for the standard Nigerian Passport which may take a minimum of three weeks for renewal and six weeks for new one.” He said.
