The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede has directed that 11 officers and men of the Service be issued query for overcharging foreigners on the ‘Visa on Arrival’ facility.
Babandede disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the 11 officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, were found to have overcharged some visitors on the newly launched ‘Visa on Arrival’ (VoA) facility.
He said that other disciplinary actions would be taken on them after they had answered the query, to serve as deterrent to others.
It will be recalled that the NIS had issued official guidelines that was made public on the processing, official online payment and mode of issuance of the VoA document.
Babandede noted that officers and men at all entry points to the country where such facility were issued had been warned on the need for strict compliance with the guidelines.
“The management of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is by this action on the 11 officers and men, affirming that it will not spare any act tantamount to flouting laid down rules and procedure,
“This is to ensure that we do not do anything that will discourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and truncate effective service delivery to the public,” he said.
NAN recalls that the NIS recently launched the online VoA platform as part of Federal Government’s plan to eliminate all unnecessary bureaucratic visa processing procedures, and ensure that foreigners/investors get their visas upon arrival in the country, upon presenting the necessary documents. (NAN)
MUYI/ASH/ASH