Ask foreigners for proof of registration before attending to them - NIS

Employers of labour, landlords, hoteliers and other Nigerians have been called upon to ensure that foreigners provide proof of registration before attending to them.

The Bayelsa Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service said it had registered at least 856 emigrants in the state in the on-going e-registration in the country.

Mr Felix Odika, the Comptroller of the command, made this call in Yenagoa on Monday during the on-going e-registration of emigrants.

According to him, the e-registration was for emigrants, who had stayed in the country beyond 90 days.

“The programme is a bid to safeguard and secure the country’s internal security.

“So far, we have registered over 856, the exercise mandated all emigrants staying beyond 90 days in Nigeria to go to the nearest Immigration Centre for the e-registration.

“It started on July 12 in Abuja and the deadline is January 2020 because it will run for six months.

“The idea is to register all foreign nationals to enable us to monitor them properly,” Odika said.

He said that registration was open to any non-Nigerian, who intends to stay in Nigeria for a period exceeding 90 days.

He said that foreigners at the age of 18 and above were eligible for the e-registration.

He, however, said that persons enjoying diplomatic immunity and those staying less than 90 days in Nigeria were not qualified to register.