The Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has warned that officers and men of the service against engaging in looting or any other activity that would tarnish the image of the service.
He said they must not be found wanting as security operatives who have been saddled with the responsibility of protecting the integrity of the profession and projectors of the image of the nation.
According to agency reports, a statement signed by the service Public Relations Officer, Mr James Sunday, on Thursday in Abuja stated that the CG gave the charge during the service parade for the month of October.
Babandede also charged men of the Customs Service to ensure that the fundamental human rights of citizens and other travelers at the borders are respected, provided such travellers have genuine reasons and documents.
He reiterated that border crossing is not subject to fee collection, apart from those that must be paid online such as Visa on Arrival, and are not to be paid to individuals, adding that such processes must pass through the international airports while that of border crossing for ECOWAS members still remains in the local wings of airports.
“ECOWAS member states are ECOWAS citizens, and they have visa abolition exemption, hence they are not to be subjected to any payment while crossing the border with valid travel documents and through recognised entry points whenever borders are opened by government,” the Customs boss said, adding, “The service is in the forefront of citizens diplomacy and will always ensure Nigerians are treated with dignity, respect and honour which the service extends to citizens of other countries.”
The CG continued, “The service also will witness facelift by alignment and harmonisation of ranks of its personnel, due to the removal of dichotomy between HND and degree holders, which we view as a relief as advocates of skillful personnel against unskilled.
“Many of the officers in inspectorate cadre will wear a new rank, commensurate to their grades, and acrimonies and rancour associated with dichotomy will be a thing of the past.”
(NAN)