The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Cross River Command, has solicited the assistance of the State Government for the setting up of a passport issuing office in the northern senatorial district of the state.
The state Comptroller, Mr James Ezugwu, made the appeal on Monday at a meeting with Gov. Ben Ayade, government officials and other stakeholders in Calabar.
Ezugwu said the new passport office was necessary in order to bring issuance of international passport closer to the people.
According to him, the meeting was part of NIS sensitisation of relevant stakeholders in the state on the ongoing e-registration of foreigners and sundry issues.
“The NIS Cross River command has begun in earnest registration of migrants electronically. This follows the official flag off of the exercise by Mr President on July 12,” he said.
The comptroller added that the essence of the sensitisation was part of the Comptroller General’s policy of “ease of doing business” across the country.
He commended Gov. Ayade for his continued support to the command and called for more collaboration in tackling migrant issues in the state.
Ezugwu also described refugees issue in the state as a huge challenge to the command and stressed the need for all stakeholders to synergise and tackle the menace.
He further appealed to government to provide the the service with land to develop infrastructure for the command, such as barracks for the 522 personal in the state.
It would be recalled that the new comptroller assumed office in the state on July 3.
In his responds, Gov. Ayade commended the service for the improvement in its operations in the state.
Ayade also assured the service of government’s willingness to assist, and promised to donate a gunboat, a piece of land and monthly security subvention to facilitate its operations.
According to him this will encourage the service to perform to the optimum and enable it to help the state curtail the huge number of illegal immigrants that have flooded the state.
“It will reduce the influx of Cameroonian refugees who are fleeing their country due to the political crisis there.
“I have approved of the land you asked for. I have approved the donation of gunboat. I have also approved that monthly security support be extended to NIS.
“I am happy you asked that a new passport office be opened in northern part of the state. I am so glad to give my support for that,” he said.
