The Anambra state government has flagged off the electronic registration of foreigners in the state to legalise their stay.
Governor Willie Obiano performed the symbolic registration, yesterday at the Nigeria Immigration Service, Anambra State Command Awka.
The migrants e-registration which will enhance effective monitoring and control of foreigners as well as provide a database that can be harnessed by all security agencies and institutions involved in migration management, as provided by the National Migration Policy 2015, was attended by security chiefs in the state as well as the university community among others.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, said the programme was part of efforts to secure state’s territory, adding that the exercise will ensure a closer check on all immigrants in the state to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state.
The Governor added that identity management is very important for the safety of the nation, as it will help to check illegal immigrants and ensure that the rights of all the immigrants will also be protected.
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Speaking during the inauguration of the migrant e-registration exercise, the Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Anambra State Command, Mrs. Tochukwu Agwai, said that as an instrument for identification, the e-registration would ensure protection of migrants’ rights and serve as a source of information and intelligence for all security agencies, including the international police.
According to her, apart from making Nigeria free of criminals, registration of foreigners will help in building a database that will help the country in national planning.
The Comptroller said the government had given a six-month amnesty to all regular and irregular immigrants in the country, which would elapse early next year as the exercise would validate and their stay in the country.
Responding on behalf of the immigrants, Mr. Abubarkar Sanusi who is the Secretary of Niger Republic and the President, National Association of Ghanaian community in Nigeria, Anambra State Council Engineer, John Forson, thanked all for assisting them secure and protect their members, assuring that they will do their best in keeping with the lay down principles of the country.
Tribune Online gathered that the electronic registration of foreigners in Nigeria was inaugurated on July 12, 2019, by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja where he declared a period of amnesty to all migrants to enable them to present themselves for registration.
