Tough procedures await immigrants at entry points

Posted by admin Headlines Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Tough entry requirements have been put in place for foreigners at Nigeria’s border posts. This, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said, will check terrorism traced to the aliens. The NIS Comptroller-General, Chinyere Uzoma, said yesterday that henceforth, Immigration officers must be sure of the identities and missions of aliens before allowing them into the country.

On his part, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, has ordered the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Anti-Bomb Squad, Ambrose Aisabor , to upgrade all the 25 Explosive Ordinance Departments (EOD) across the country. The IGP also directed Mr. Aisabor to create additional EODs in the states that lacked the department. Mrs. Uzoma handed down the directive in Abuja yesterday while briefing top officials including state Comptrollers.

She warned that all state Comptrollers would account for all untoward incidents in the discharge of the duties of officers and men under their commands, whether in the issuance of the e-passport or negligence by Border Control Officers and their Patrol/Surveillance counterparts. The NIS boss, who said that the nation’s prevailing precarious security situation is tesing their patriotism, noted that it was pertinent to reiterate that the Service is strategically positioned to contribute significantly towards the strengthening and sustenance of national security.

“We have no option than to demonstrate unflinching commitment and dedication in the discharge of our duties because it is not just a service to the nation but a service that will determine our individual survival not only as human beings but as citizens. The time is now for us to shun all acts of corruption, negligence and truancy. We must rise up to justify the various trainings and investments that the nation has made in us.
“All hands must be on deck to remedy the unhealthy and intolerable security situation in the country. Irregular migration must be discouraged, in fact, prevented completely at this point.

Henceforth, we must be certain of the identity and mission of those we are permitting into the country. On no account must any person without clear identity, be allowed to enter the country. Moreso, field officers at all entry points and immigration divisional officers are expected to look out for foreigners suspected to be linked to, or engaged in any criminal activity and report their findings to appropriate superior officers”, the CGI stated.

Meanwhile, a police source told Daily Sun that some governors whose states have no EOD, have started providing temporary bases and are begging the IGP to create the unit in their states.One of those governors who had donated a temporary site for EOD is Chief Martin Elechi, of Ebonyi State. He promised to build a permanent place, once the IGP agrees to put the EOD office in the state.
Daily Sun reliably learnt that Ringim, who is not happy with the incessant bomb attacks and scares in the country, yesterday ordered CP Aisabor to immediately go on a nationwide tour of the 25 units of the EOD.
The CP was also asked to use all the means available to create new units nationwide.

Confirming the story, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anti-Bomb Department, Gbolahan Moforolu said, an Assistant Superintendent, said the CP would soon commence a nationwide tour of the 25 units of the EOD. He disclosed; “he was also asked to upgrade the units and create additional ones.”
However, the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, has maintained that the object discovered at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat on Wednesday was the handiwork of mischief-makers who wanted to scare the public.

The CP at a joint Press briefing with the Anti-Bomb Unit and the Ikeja council Chairman, Wale Odulami, said the device was a hoax orchestrated by enemies of the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
He said that after the discovery, the police Anti-Bomb experts took the object for analysis and it was later discovered that all the accessories in the object had no component of Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Mr. Alkali warned mischief-makers to desist from causing panic in the state as the force would not take such a breach of peace, lightly.

On the command’s preparedness against the Boko Haram’s incursion into the state, he said: “Whether Boko Haram or armed robbers, we are fully prepared against any eventuality.
He assured Lagosians of the Police’s adequate protection of lives and property, but advised that members of the public should assist the Force by providing information about suspicious characters in their areas.
Mr. Odulami commended the Police for their quick response to his distress call.
In a related development, CP Alkali said that security had been strengthened in Apapa and Tincan Ports, following the Ikeja LGA bomb sacre scare.

-Sunwp_posts