President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to withdraw diplomatic and official passports from all former government functionaries.
According to the Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service, Martins Kure Abeshi who made the announcement, the directive would affect all former governors, legislators, ministers, commissioners, special advisers and special assistants, chairmen and deputy chairmen of local governments, heads of parastatals, and civil servants.
“These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja with immediate effect.
“Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an offence under the Immigration Act 2015. Such unauthorized possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Isiaka Yusuf was said to have last week expressed the federal government’s displeasure with the fact that Nigerians who were not eligible to carry the passports were in their possession.