AMID reactions that have greeted the emergence of Executive Order 06, especially travel ban, Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede has maintained that border control remained a routine for security apparatchiks in the country.
According to Babandede, the immigration service was bound to prevent anyone from traveling through the nation’s borders, if found wanted by security agencies for committing a crime or if there were a court order to such effect.
Babandede made this assertion when he led other immigration officers on a courtesy visit to the Oyo Governor’s office, Ibadan, on Monday.
“I don’t know why this is a big news now. It’s a routine job. If Police wants someone, they send the person’s name to us so that the person is arrested at the border before he leaves.
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“If the army wants someone or the court stops somebody from traveling, and we receive it, we act on it. Anybody who is wanted or has committed a crime, we have a right by our regulation to stop the person from traveling,” Babandede said.
Speaking further, Babandede reiterated that the roll out of new passport booklets with ten years validity will commence by December, but added that existing passport booklets will still run till they expire
“By end of this year, we will print a new passport booklet. The new booklet will have improved security features in it. The old ones will run concurrently before they expire. It is an opportunity for Nigerians to have 10 years validity especially those in diaspora. The quality is also being improved to prevent quick wear and tear,” Babandede said.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Adeyemo, called for improved border policing policies to prevent the entry of criminals into the country.
Noting that porous borders was largely responsible for insecurity challenges in the country, he urged the immigration officers to always recruit credible people to better its operations.
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