Nigeria Customs Service and Immigration Service personnel stationed at land borders have not received allowances for 30 months, leaving them in dire conditions. Deployed for over five years, they face dangers daily while calling for urgent payment and reassignment. The government is reviewing the payment process.
Personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) stationed at the country’s land borders have raised alarm over the non-payment of their allowances for the past 30 months. These officers, some of whom have served at the borders for over five years, described their working conditions as dire and unsustainable.
One anonymous operative expressed frustration, stating, “We are in a dire situation. We were deployed during President Buhari’s administration and have not received our allowances for two and a half years.” He highlighted that their deployments were supposed to be temporary, yet many have remained in challenging conditions without compensation.
The officer's concerns extend beyond unpaid allowances. They emphasized the dangers faced daily, including the threat of kidnappings by bandits in the region. Despite the critical nature of their work, they feel unsupported and underappreciated. The operative stated, “We live in constant fear, and with the high cost of living, we are appealing for our emoluments to be paid.”
In response, Abdullahi Maiwada, spokesperson for the customs, acknowledged the issues and mentioned that the review of their payment process is ongoing. He assured that the customs service is working to resolve the matter, although the Nigeria Immigration Service has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation. Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior has reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing border security and managing the country’s borders effectively.
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