The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has restated its zero tolerance policy for the collecting of unlawful passport payments.
According to Tony Akuneme, the Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller of Immigration, 80 policemen are on trial for extortion and 8 others have been sacked in the previous year.
He stated that the sanction was part of Comptroller General Isah Jere’s three-point agenda of passport reform, border security, and officer welfare.
According to the spokeswoman, the CG’s efforts resulted in the majority of applicants booking online for passports, which was not the case previously.
“You don’t need anyone, whether immigration officers or agents known as touts.” “They are still third parties,” he explained to NAN.
“We’ve kept punishing officers and men who try to help people for a fee.” You can help people legitimately without extorting money from them.
Akuneme expressed regret that “learned and civilised persons” typically rely on third parties to execute their applications.
According to the PRO, this can lead to complications such as an incorrect National Identification Number (NIN), among other things.
The NIS recommended candidates to fill out their papers in person, noting that officers are assigned to monitor corrupt personnel.
When people are extorted, Akuneme advises them to “tell the world,” and the Immigration authorities refuses to take action.
