No fewer than 40 Benninois nationals have been nabbed by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for being in possession of Nigerian Permanent Voters Cards (PVC). The Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration (ACG) in charge of Lagos and Ogun States, Musa Maza, revealed this yesterday while being honored by the Chinese Youths Association (CYA). The ACG, who said all the suspects were Benninois nationals who resides in different parts of Lagos, also gave statistics of the number of deportees and those arrested for various immigration offences in the month of May. He said the nationals, who were arrested at the Seme border in Badagry area of Lagos, have since been handed over to the Beninnois security for further investigation and prosecution.
He said: “The eagle-eyed immigration officers were able to apprehend 40 ECOWAS nationals who were mainly Beninoise and in possession of the Nigerian PVCs. The cards were seized from them. “Also, 380 Nigerians were deported for immigration and other offences from various countries in the month of May 2016. Also, 311 of them were deported on regular scheduled flights, while 69 were deported aboard a special flight. “From the seaport, 1,171 foreign nationals arrived on our shores between May 5 and 11, 2016.
While 941 foreigners departed from Nigeria to their countries. “From the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, we recorded some deportees; 380 Nigerians were deported for immigration and other offences from various countries in the month of May 2016. “Around 311 of them were deported on regular scheduled flights, while 69 were deported aboard a special flight. “On normal arrival, a total of 97,133 passengers arrived during this period. They consist of 72,699 Nigerians and 24,434 other nationals. “A breakdown of the arrivals showed that 14,043 visitors came into the country last month while 4,787 residents came back through the MMIA. “The departed people were 77,090 passengers, while 57,979 of them were Nigerians, 19,111 were other nationals.
“Then, on the reports from our border patrols, a total of 91 irregular immigrants were refused entry into the country in the month of May 2016, while 60 Nigerians who were in possession of valid travelling documents were refused departures.” Addressing the Chinese entourage, he said his office recognizes and appreciates each other’s contribution towards ensuring a free flow of business activities from both countries. He said, “The essence of this visit is to give recognition and to appreciate each other contribution’s towards ensuring a free flow of business activities. “We all know that the government of the day is serious about encouraging investments from abroad. Investors are being wooed to come over here to do business with us in order to improve the economy of this country. “And it is in line with this principle that the NIS, Zone A, have continually demonstrated her resolve to assist genuine investors that come into our country to do business.
