Metro Immigration Owed $548,000 by Airlines

Sandra Chiefe

Moderator
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No less than 361 Nigerians have been deported in two months through the Lagos Murtala Mohammed International Airport, reported the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The deportees are mostly from Europe, Asia, United States, South Africa and other African nations.

Also, at least 23 airlines both foreign and local owe the service $548, 000 as fine of $2,000 each for inadmissible passengers brought into the country by them.

Speaking at the Lagos airport where the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Mr. David Parradang came for a working visit, the Comptroller General spoke derogatorily against corrupt immigration officers and warned such officers are not only smearing the image of the service, but that of Nigeria in general. He insisted that the service would not hesitate to dismiss any officer caught in the act, stressing that the main purpose of governance was security and welfare as spelt out in the constitution.

“For junior officers, we have on-the-room trial committee that will quickly process them through disciplinary action and those who are found wanting, we kick them out. For senior officers, you must appear before a board for you to be tried and if you are found wanting, you are taken off from the system.

The NIS was owed $548, 000 by 23 airlines for bringing in the inadmissible persons into the country, but decried that most of the airlines are reluctant to pay the sanction, which he said negated the Act of the service.

Parradang also expressed disaffection with the reports emanating from the airport about the conducts of his officers, which indicated that they were extorting travellers, something that has been considered a customs office tradition.

Parradang insists on changing the face of the Nigerian Immigration Service to that of a national agency that Nigeria and Nigerians can be proud of.
 
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