By Saminu Ibrahim
The Senate committee on interior on Tuesday expressed concern over the federal government point of entry visa policy to African countries.
Indeed, the committee urged the minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and the Comptroller General of Immigratimion, Mohammed Babande to advise the President appropriately on the policy.
Specifically, it added that the nation should stop the policy if it will undermine the country’s security architecture.
The committee made this known on Tuesday during Investigative hearing in Abuja.
Senator Shuaibu Lau advised that the FG through the various security agencies should first of all comb the nooks and crannies of the country and free it of illegal immigrants who are threatening the nation’s security.
But the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS), Mohammed Babande said that, the point of entry visa policy will rather strengthen the nation security than weakening it as expressed by the lawmakers.
He explained that previously the system of checkmating migrants did not offer the agency all the data of foreigners in the country, saying that with the current policy in place, they would be able to have all data of individual coming to the country.
“I can understand your fears as representatives of the people, but I want to assure you that this policy of point of entry visa is globally best practices.
“It is to strengthen the security of Nigerians because what we are doing now with the arrival of the policy, we will not only capture them biometrically but we also take their photograph so that in case of anything they won’t be any hiding place for them” he said.
Meanwhile chairman of the committee, Kashim Shettima advised the FG to consider all sides of the policy before going ahead.
“We are going to leave this place well informed and well educated.
“Ours here is to gather all facts and assemble them together and report back to the Senate” Shettima said.
