From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
One week after his appointment, the new Controller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede has read the riot act to his men.
He directed officers across the nation to arrest all former governors, ministers and former lawmakers still in possession of diplomatic passports after leaving office.
The CG issued the directive yesterday during a maiden briefing of Controllers and above, at the NIS national headquarters, Abuja.
He also banned writing of petitions by officers and stressed that an avenue will be created, monthly, to hear views of aggrieved officers without being punished for such views.
While revealing that the service has so far retrieved about 158 diplomatic passports, Babandede said that in “view of an earlier publication for return of official/diplomatic passports by former political office holders and retired public servants, it must be noted that charges will be pressed against unauthorised holders of such documents.
“This is because, such persons are no longer on the eligibility list and, therefore, in contradiction of section 10 of the extant Immigration Act 2015, I am, hereby, directing that unauthorised holders of such passports be arrested at the Airports and other points of entry/departure. Efforts will be made also to trace such unauthorised holders in their given addresses.”
Expressing disapointment on the activities of those he described as ‘heartless officers who are setting up illegal check points to extort Nigerians,’ Babandede disclosed he will hold zonal controllers and state command responsible for such act henceforth.
He also said the Service, under him, must stop rendering service like native doctors.
“I am setting up an anti-corruption squad, but, before this, I will hold the zonal coordinators and comptrollers responsible. I don’t need your blood money as organised crime law enforcement call ‘returns’.
“I am aware of money being extorted from passport applicants and, at various borders/check points in the country. What is happening in the liberated territories in the NorthEast is most disturbing to me…”
“Heartless Immigration officers set illegal check points in the hinterland, to bully and extort money from citizens already devastated by Boko Haram insurgency. I will not accept this service to be the second grade of Boko Haram.
“I am setting up an anti-corruption squad, but, before this I will hold the zonal coordinators and comptrollers responsible. I do not want your blood money, as organized crime law enforcement called ‘returns’…We will also do our best to send the limited resources available for operations to avoid operatives funding job with corrupt monies.”
The immigration boss equally directed the decentralization of passport issuance and administration, listing other sweeping changes to include approval for change of name due to marriage which he said can now be given by the state comptrollers.