Immigration chief vows to tackle sharp practices at ports

The Acting Comptroller General of Immigration (Ag.CGI), Isah Jere Idris, has vowed to stop sharp practices by stakeholders in all the ports in the country.

The acting CGI, who paid a visit to the Abuja and Lagos airports to meet with critical stakeholders, condemned the sharp practices going on there.

According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO), ACI Amos Okpu: “The acting CGI arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, at about 10:15 am and met with a cross-section of the Service’s personnel as well as officials of other agencies.

“He stated that his visit has become necessary following some disturbing reports of unprofessional practices by some officials of agencies at the Ports. He stressed that he considered it very important to engage all the critical stakeholders at the Ports for frank discussions on how they would jointly emplace measures to eradicate some sharp and inglorious practices of few Officials at the Ports that have continued to diminish the country’s image and discourage potential visitors from coming into the country.

“The acting CGI called for enhanced cooperation and collaboration among heads of the various agencies at the Ports for a coordinated fight against Officials found to be involved in unacceptable conducts at the nation’s entry Corridors. He advised Passengers to constantly resist, reject and report any instances of bribe solicitations, extortions, and or any unprofessional conduct by any Personnel to appropriate Desks within the Ports. They may also forward all such complaints to any of the following Platforms:

(i). Telephone Number ……+2348021819988
(ii). Facebook/Twitter ………@nigimmigration
(iii).email.nis.pro@immigration.gov.ng/nis.servicom@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng.

“Responding, the Regional General Manager of the Airport, Mr. Mahmud Liman Sani, agreed no less with the CGI but also stressed that his agency, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

is seriously committed to any efforts at riding the Airports off all unprofessional conducts by officials. He noted that recent reports of sharp practices at the ports have been quite disturbing and must be addressed squarely by heads and personnel of all the agencies at the Ports.
“In his contribution, the Comptroller of Immigration in charge of the airport, CIS Babali Mohammed, promised commitment to professionalism by his personnel as well improved service delivery to the people.

“Shortly after, the Ag.CGI departed Abuja for the Lagos airport where he held similar engagement Sessions with officials of agencies at the Airport. He reiterated his call for synergy among agencies at the Port and high investments in quality service delivery so as to enrich travelers’ experiences across the nation’s entry corridors.

“While welcoming the CGI, the Regional General Manager of South West of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Victoria Shinaba, expressed delight at the visit stressing that all agencies at the Ports should join forces to clean up the very unacceptable practices going on at the nation’s ports. She noted that all the secret cameras at the Lagos Port have been revamped and called on Passengers to report any poor conduct by any Officials through all available channels at the Ports for appropriate actions. She further called on other agencies at the Ports to step up checks and monitoring of their staff to ensure that no Officials get away with any allegation of sharp practices.”