The Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede has threatened senior officers saddled with responsibility of providing office, accommodation or facilities for smooth operations of Immigration activities and duties to ensure that submissions of job completion under their purview correspond with actual records on ground or be ready to face anti-graft investigations.
Speaking at the 1st quarterly conference with Deputy Comptroller Generals, Assistant Comptroller Generals and State Command Comptrollers in Abuja, the Immigration boss said, he would soon commence a nationwide inspection and investigation of projects said to have been completed at federal, state and local government levels especially those for which 100% payment has been made.
His words, “We are out to ensure transparency and accountability in all our activities. We want to know the level of implementation of projects. At the headquarters, we have so many records showing that several projects have been completed 100% and payment has been done in that regard. We will visit each project to verify the claims in the record. If we have paid 100% and we discover the project is poorly done or the project is not 100% completed, we will report such officer handling such project to the EFCC or ICPC”.
” What I am saying should be clear to every officer in this conference room. I have a lot of jobs awarded to various commands and Local Government offices. If payment for a job has been paid 100%, based on records showing same and we go there and see that only 35 or 40% of the job is completed, there is you should. Then be ready to explain to the EFCC”.
On the 2019 elections, the CGI said modalities and strategies have been put in place to ensure that non Nigerian are stopped from voting saying, “We have to ensure that our borders are not used for people to come in”.
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Disclosing that none Nigerians might likely try to interfere with the elections, Babandede said, “We will not allow non Nigerians to vote.
As you know, during elections, there will be restriction of movement, the borders will be closed. Our men who have been trained will ensure nobody cones in.
Regarding foreign election observers, the Immigration boss said, “A lot of foreigners will come. We want genuine election monitors. Some may come for clandestine activities during the election. If you get a visa for tourism and you are found monitoring election, it will not be allowed. If you are here for tourism, face your tourism”.
To officers performing election duties, Babandede said, “we will ensure that during election all our officers are adequately paid their allowances. We will be assisting the Police with a strong Rapid Response team because the police is the lead agency.
” We will not condone corruption of our officers. You must not allow politicians to hire you. We must not be used by any politician. We have met with other security agencies, the ONSA and the Police and will work in synergy”.
He said the sun of #2.6billion budgeted for Immigration personnel for the election will be used for allowances, fueling of vehicles, feeding and other necessary logistics to aid the work of officers and men.
Speaking on the new 10 year validity passport, the CGI said the sum of #70,000 was a just price considering the 60 page document has 25 additional features adding that the service is working on a new policy of sending alerts to passport owners once it is 3 months to expiry date.
For those complaining of the high cost, he said the 32 page booklet of 5 years is costing #25,000 which is reasonable in accordance with global standards.
Regarding Boko Haram, the CGI said the service has lost so many officers to the insurgency saying, “We have lost a lot of officers, vehicles and facilities. A lot were injured. But what we have done is that officers who have ever served in Joint Task Force, when they return, we promote them”.
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