Immigration official says NVP 2020 will impact nation’s economy

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Idris, has said that the Nigeria Visa Policy would drastically transform the economy of the country.

He made this observation while declaring open a Stakeholders’ Sensitization programme on the Nigeria Visa Policy Document (NVP 2020) organised by the Nigeria Immigration Service Akwa Ibom State Command,

Represented by the Zonal Coordinator Zone E, Owerri, Mrs. E C Ejiogu, described a visa as one of the strongest instruments used by nations to control the entry and exit of migrants into their territories.

Besides, he said that visa is used to spur economic development, enhance global relationships and promote peace and security.

“The Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP 2020) is an ambitious document that would drastically transform the economy of our country. In the document, we have expanded Visa classes from mere six to 79 classes in three new categories of Short Visit Visa (28 classes), Temporary Residence Visa (36 classes) and Permanent Residence Visa (15 classes).

“The major highlight of the document is that we now have Visa classes for every conceivable purpose of travel unlike before when we issue only business or work Visa to anyone desirous of coming into the country”, he said.

According to him, Akwa Ibom was currently one of the most business-friendly states in Nigeria hence, being rated the Second Best State in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) rating after Lagos.

He thanked the governor and his team for the attraction of Foreign Direct investments, adding that, he was proud of the efforts of the state in other sectors of the economy

“Akwa Ibom State has the longest and largest coastline in the country. Its coastline measures about 129 kilometres. The aquatic resources are massive just as the need to emplace deliberate maritime security structure for effective protection is imperative”, he added.

In his remarks, the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State, George Didel, lamented the high rate of human trafficking and crime of harvesting human parts in the state and pledged to redouble efforts to tackle ill

However, he declared that Akwa Ibom was the second most business-friendly state in Nigeria, after Lagos.

Earlier, Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, charged operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, to adopt new approaches and be proactive and diligent to avoid admitting into the country visitors with evil designs.

According to him, innocent visitors who unwittingly passed into the country could be part of a terrorist sleeper cell in today’s world of the asymmetric security situation.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, he said, a robust and proactive Immigration Service can be used to forestall terrorist attacks.

He urged NIS to take a cue from the United States, which has made the Immigration Service part of their Department of Homeland Affairs to prevent a repeat of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service is a critical member of the Nigerian Security architecture. In most of the advanced world, it is part of the first line of national defence, given the critical role it plays in admitting visitors through various ports of entry in those nations.

“In today’s world of asymmetric security situations, the seemingly innocent visitor you may have admitted into your country may be part of a terrorist sleeper cell. Such a visitor may have been sent by his or her sponsors with the expressed evil command to cause a breach of public peace through acts of terrorism.

“The need, therefore, for the Immigration Service to meet regularly, explore new approaches of protecting the nation, and thinking, anticipating and disrupting such evil designs has become even more urgent and imperative”, he said.

He commended the collaboration of security agencies in the state, saying the peace enjoyed in Akwa Ibom was due to the unity and networking among security agencies in the state.