This Is Exactly What Buhari Asked Newly-Appointed Immigration Boss To Do To Defaulting Officers

All the officers charging extra money to issue passports will be sacked once they have been exposed.
This revelation was made by newly-appointed Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr Martins Abeshi, during his first visit to Lagos since his appointment by president Muhammadu Buhari.

The immigration boss said the President specifically appointed him in order to address the high rate of corruption in the Nigeria Immigration Service.



“I don’t want any of us to engage in corrupt practices. Corrupt practices in passport offices are not far from extortion, charging more than what government said you should collect from applicants; collecting unnecessary fees which the government hasn’t stated.

“That must stop and that is the message I have for you from President Buhari. All our jobs, including mine, are on the line if we are found wanting. If we are doing this, let us stop it,” he was quoted to have said by The Punch.

Abeshi noted further that some mechanisms being put in place by the Buhari-led administration have made it possible to expose corrupt officers.“I want us to try as much as possible to stop these corrupt practices. Let me warn you that the era of marked money is here. Those of you who collect millions and thousands from people should be warned. If you collect the money and you think you have hit the jackpot, when they arrest you, I will disown you.

“So, be careful. I advise you to be careful. President Buhari is spending a lot of money fighting corruption.”

Abeshi said he had received reports about some immigration officers who are have formed the habit of extorting private companies while pretending to be checking foreigners who lacked work permits.

While announcing the ban on such activities, the Immigration boss said: “I have received complaints of visitations to companies particularly in Lagos under the guise of inspecting immigration documents in the most unprofessional manner.

“Following these complaints, I hereby announce that inspection of documents at companies have been suspended forthwith until the time the service will produce a new template for such an exercise.”

He also expressed his appreciation of ex-government officials who have started returning their official passports since Monday, as directed by the federal government.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service in a new policy, recently noted that foreigners who are willing to stay beyond 180 days in Nigeria will pay $2,000 extra.