…Plans to introduce biometric data capture for foreigners
From Yakubu Busari ,Jos
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration, Muhammed Babandede has promised that the agency would introduce biometric data capture of foreigners with genuine visa.
He disclosed this against the background of the seizure of 700 voters card from foreigners at different locations in the country.
Speaking during the commissioning of Plateau chapter of Immigration service Federal Secretariat, Jos at the weekend.
Babandede noted that he does not want Nigerians to begin to think that foreigners are going to participate in the elections,hence the need to publicly explained why the immigrations would apply statistical analyses to biological data of foreigners.
On the voters card recovery, he said: “that notwithstanding, last two weeks were been able to talk with the press and were able to display 700 voters cards which we seized from non- Nigerians at different angles. Some at departure point, some at arrival, some during investigation and we handed it over to INEC and luckily INEC have got us involved in the elections”.
“The election duties in terms of security are the primary responsibility of all security agencies including the Nigerian immigration. The police cannot handle it alone. We have been cooperating to work to make sure Nigeria is peaceful, the elections is free and fair that is why we are participating to make sure we have a secured the environment for people to register and exercise their right and elect who they want.
“We will make sure as Nigerian service that non -Nigerians cannot participate in our elections. They don’t have the right to participate in many ways.”
“They cannot vote, they cannot be voted for and we don’t want them to participate in the rallies so that it cannot create violence. I assured you all have been put in place the necessary machinery to make we will be in all election locations
“We were there during the distribution of cards by INEC to make sure only Nigerians get the cards.
Babndede who disclosed that Immigration officials were fully prepared to work in collaboration with relevant agencies to make the 2019 election free and fair, added the agency officials have attended United Nations, and the Federal Government jointly organized mini-training workshop on elections towards equipping them ahead of the polls.
He said the organization introduced biometric capture for visa for those desirous of coming to the country after screening the foreigners right in the countries before they fly in or cross the border, into Nigeria.
“We have improved our operations at our airports and mobilized across our boarders smoothly without compromising our security. You will agree with us that we won the award this year for the best agency in the airport for service delivery without compromising National security.
“If the person want to be the citizen of Nigeria, he or she will be mandated to register with the Nigerian immigration within 90 days,” he said.
Explaining further, he said the biometric data capture of foreigners and the recent recovery of voters card from some of them should not be taken to mean that foreigners were undermining the security of the country. He said that majority of foreigners that are in Nigeria contribute to the economic development of the country and are living peacefully “because if you look at the crime ratio of the people being arrested, who have been in conflict with the law compare majority are Nigerians.”
You agree with me that Nigeria is a good country accommodating many non -Nigerians who also are abiding by the law.”
