October 14, 2014 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday charged Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service to make the border posts impervious for criminals and travelers infected with infectious diseases.
Fashola spoke shortly after Lagos State Controller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Justina Ahamdu presented a 64 page Nigeria e-passport to him, his wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola and the Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Adefulire. The three documents were processed on the spot and handed over to the governor and the two other individuals.
Fashola charged the two agencies to develop a reputation such that people can tell a potential criminal, ‘if you are thinking of that, don’t try Nigeria’, adding that the two agencies are definitive on how safe and secure Nigeria is. “Think of the 170 million Nigerians if something goes wrong”, he said.
He reminded them that Nigerians sleep with both eyes closed because they know that they have those agencies at the border posts.
The governor who said other countries have been able to achieve the feat, said the immigration service and customs remains the first line of defence for Nigerians. “It is what passes you that police and other security agencies will have to mop up”, he said adding that other security agencies would be overwhelmed if it becomes too easy for criminals to pass through the borders.
Speaking on the need to strengthen border health, the governor noted that though Ebola Virus Disease has been contained, there is no guarantee that it will not find its way back into the country if things are not done properly.
He said he will be ready to provide needed assistant to strengthen border health such that it will become possible to quarantine any person coming in that shows signs of infectious disease adding that it is easy to deal with the situation at point of entry than dealing with the situation when those affected are already in.
In her opening remarks, Ahmadu said the 64-page e-passport was lunched by President Goodluck Jonathan July 30th in Abuja adding that the introduction of the document was a direct response to ameliorate the plight of Nigeria’s frequent travelers who spend productive man hours in applying for re-issue of the 32-page passport.
“The 64-pae e-passport also has the advantage of enhances security features which prevents identity theft, substitution and other … crimes and criminality”, she said.
She said that the Comptroller General of Immigrations, Mr. David Shikfu Paradang has approved the establishment of two additional passport offices in Lagos State to ensure that seamless and quality service delivery continues to be the hallmark of Nigeria Immigration Service.
She called on the governor to come to the assistance of the service in speedy repatriation of non-Nigerians who pose threat to public peace.
