In just 14 days to the general election, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the confiscation of a total of 6216 cards comprising of 2,381 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) as well as 3,823 National Identity Number Cards from foreigners.
Comptroller General of Immigration Service (CGIS) Isah Jere Idris made the disclosure at the Immigration Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday at a retreat organized for Management and State Commanders in readiness for the upcoming general election.
He said that the seizures were made from 21 state command adding that the states are very close to the boarder communities. He noted that Jigawa state recorded the highest confiscation with 583 PVCs and 120 NIN Cards while Jibiya Border recorded 587 NIN Cards and 229 PVCs.
The CGIS gave details of other confiscated cards thus: Kebbi State: NIN 1331, PVC 1356; Mfum Border: NIN 20, PVC 57; Yobe: NIN 210, PVC 252; Sokoto NIN 172, PVC 62; Oyo NIN 40, PVC 30; Illela Border NIN 525, PVC 54; Zamfara State NIN 82; Taraba NIN 74, PVC 38; Kogi NIN 5, PVC 2; Bauchi NIN 9, PVC 2; Adamawa NIN 48, PVC 1; Plateau PVC 4; Niger NIN 76 PVC 71; Nasarawa PVC 4; Edo NIN 4; Ogun NIN 3, PVC 17; Lagos NIN 17; Akwa Ibom NIN 5 and Kwara NIN 22, PVC 82.
Idris cautioned officers and men to remain apolitical and ensure that men under their command remain so, adding that comptrollers will he held liable for any breech in their command during the election.
“Let me remind us also that the 2022 Electoral Law and indeed the 1999 Constitution as amended place a legal burden on all stakeholders in the electoral process, including INEC, Security Agencies, Political Parties, Local and International observers and the media.
“I therefore charge all of us to rededicate ourselves to this patriotic duty and go all out to make the NIS proud again.
“All the Comptrollers shall be held liable for any lapses or partisanship involving personnel under their watch. You are hereby charged to re-orientate Officers and Men to exhibit high sense of professionalism to complement the current positive public perceptions of the Service as a result of our ongoing reforms.
“This period calls for the highest level of security awareness among all personnel and any acts of compromise shall be treated as sabotage against our national security”.
The Immigration boss further stated that the Service is prepared for the task constitutionally imposed on it during the election. He said that officers and men have undertaken various levels of training to empower them with the requisite skills and knowledge for proper discharge of its duties during the election.
“The NIS has been regularly attending Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organization by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in readiness for the 2023 General Election.
“The NIS has established Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Immigration Women Armed Squad (IWAS) in preparation for any contingency of lawlessness during Election. Efforts are on top gear to mobilize NIS personnel (Border Corps, Border Drill and Border Control Post personnel) to secure all our entry and exit points before, during and after Election.
“Efforts are on top gear to mobilize NIS personnel (Border Corps, Border Drill and Border Control Post personnel) to secure all our entry and exit points before, during and after Election”.
Adding his voice, Deputy Comptroller in charge Boarder Operation, Mohammed Muhammad in his welcome address, noted that adequate arrangements are in place for effecting monitoring of the exercise, Processing and issuance of visas and clearance of Foreign observers for Election monitoring at all our international Airports.
The retreat was attended by DCG IAM Haliru – DCO Visa Residency; DGC CW Edepoju – DCO Finance & Accounts; ACO AO Esekhaigbe – ACO Migration and most of the state commanders.