NAN-H-98
Collaboration
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, has said that the administration will work closely with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to check the influx of illegal immigrants and squatters.
Bello said this when he met Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, FCT Command on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that some of the squatters stayed in some uncompleted buildings in and around the territory with no verifiable address or tangible means of livelihood.
According to him, some of the squatters have been identified by FCT Administration officials as illegal immigrants.
The minister said that the administration would collaborate with the Immigration Service to rid the capital territory of the illegal immigrants and other miscreants.
“I will like to appeal to you to continue to provide support for us, especially as we profile a lot of people that we find in the city in abandoned buildings and locations.
“You simply see so many people and you do not know what they do.
“Most of the times, once you check, you will see that a number of them are actually aliens,” he said
Bello acknowledged the good working relationship between the FCT Administration and the Immigration Service.
The minister said the administration would do everything possible to sustain and strengthen the relationship.
“A few months ago, I discussed with the Comptroller-General in respect of his request to open a second passport office in Abuja and a place has been identified for you in Area 10.
“That place can be arranged to serve that purpose,” he said.
The minister said he would allocate a befitting plot of land for the service to build its FCT Command in the Federal Capital City to enable it serve the residents better.
“Obviously, as you know, the FCTA does not have office facilities to give out to agencies like your own.
“Looking at the importance of what you do, you might have to look at a way of renting something in the interim.
“Ultimately, we will try to identify a suitable piece of land where you can build an office that you could use; that would cater for the command and all the other offices for the services that you are rendering.
“Of course, you know it will take some time,” Bello said.
Earlier, Ibrahim appealed to the minister to give the Command a new office in the capital territory.
He said that the command “now operates from Gwagwaglada Area Council. Whereas, other commands are situated in the state capitals across the federation’’.
The comptroller also requested for new operational vehicles, as the two vehicles being used now are very old. (NAN)
KM/OSA/AJA
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(Edited by Shittu Obassa/Adeleye Ajayi)