158,840 foreigners barred from Nigeria in 2013 - Immigration

No fewer than 158,840 foreigners were denied entry into Nigeria in 2013 by the Nigeria Immigration Service for reasons bordering on national security.

The service also prevented 106,739 Nigerians from leaving the country just as 7,390 Nigerians were repatriated to the country by foreign governments.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, David Parradang, who said this at an interactive session with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, explained that a new Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card, has been introduced for foreigners living in the country with two years validity period.

The CG stated that any foreigner who did not obtain the card by April 30,2014, would be treated as an illegal resident and repatriated from the country, adding that the NIS has embarked on a vigorous removal of irregular immigrants in the country.

According to him, 321 people were picked up in Benue State on Wednesday and five Chinese women suspected to be prostitutes were also nabbed in Abuja early Thursday morning, all of whom he said would be screened and deported if found to have entered the country illegally.

Parradang explained that 500 border control posts with radio communication and other security equipment would soon be opened across the nation’s borders, adding that the service was collaborating with other security agencies to stem the security challenge in the country by ensuring that terrorists do not exploit the porous borders to bring in arms and ammunition.

He said, “We are working vigorously to remove illegal aliens in the country and we are creating a database of all foreigners in the country. Everyone that is not a Nigerian must be on our database and will be given a machine read-able card which they must have with them at all times.

“At the end of April, Nigeria Immigration Service will be able to tell you how many non-Nigerians are in Calabar or Uyo; how many Mai-ruwa from Niger are in Abeokuta. Every alien must have the new CERPAC card because any expatriate not having the card will be treated as persons not legally resident in Nigeria and is liable to be removed from the country.”

Parradang said the recruitment process into the NIS is ongoing, adding that an aptitude test for applicants would hold by March 15,2014.

He defended the hike in the cost of the Nigerian passport to N20,000, noting that the new e-passport has been increased to 64 pages for the benefit of frequent travellers while those below 18 years will pay N8,750.

The CG added that passport for 18-60 years costs N15,000 while 60 years and above will pay N8,750.

Change of data or lost passport would cost N20,000; change of names as a result of marriage, divorce and deceased spouse is put at N8,750 and change of data on request will cost N30,000.