Nigeria launches new immigration policy targeting terrorists, foreign herdsmen

March 20, 2017Agency Report

Herdsmen

The Federal Government has unveiled a new immigration policy known as “Immigration Regulations 2017’’ to check the entry of terrorists and other trans-border crimes in the country.

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, while unveiling the document on Monday in Abuja, said the document would also fast-track the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

He explained that the “Immigration Regulations 2017’’ is a vital document that seeks to operationalise the Immigration Act, 2015 and provide the legal framework for the dynamic and unfolding migratory realities.

Mr. Dambazau said the new regulation would replace the old and outdated Immigration Act of 1963, which could not take care of modern realities such as terrorism, technology and new immigration challenges.

“The objective of this new Immigration Regulations 2007 is to provide the legal framework for the effective implementation of the Immigration Act, 2015 and consolidate existing immigration regulations.

“This new document therefore replaces the outdated Immigration Act of 1963,’’ he said.

He explained that the new document empowers the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to properly register all foreigners, protect the borders, enhance internal security and attract foreign investors using the latest technology.
Mr. Dambazau said with the policy in place, the NIS would be empowered to register and monitor the entry and movement of foreign herdsmen who come into the country.
According to him, this will also go a long way in checking the herdsmen and farmers clashes.

Earlier, the Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said the “Immigration Regulations 2017’’ would positively change the operations of NIS in line with international best practices.

“The Immigration Act, 2015 made some profound provisions such as the establishment of migration directorate, dealing with issues bordering on smuggling of migrants and so on.

“I can assure you that with the Immigration Regulation 2017, NIS has been strategically positioned to combat all cases relating to transnational organised crimes,’’ he said.

According to him, NIS will be working with other security agencies like the Police, and INTERPOL to check trans-border crimes, human trafficking and arms smuggling into Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was graced by diplomats, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIS and the International organisation for Migration (IOM).

(NAN)

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Top News

Rommel

Will the foreign herdsmen pay duty on any cattles brought into Nigeria or are they operating on waivers?
- Dazmillion
  
  Very good question because these herdsmen are bringing in imported meat. Who knows what effects that has on the local herdsmen here, if they exist because the way I see it Nigerian Fulani are no longer chasing cattle in the bush.
- thusspokez
  
  But where is the concrete evidence that these herdsmen are foreigner? Sultan ‘Head Bandage’ makes an unsubstantiated claim and everything accept it as gospel truth?
kantanga

How can they track the whereabouts of the foreign herdsmen after they’ve been registered? This is all about encouraging illegal immigration for Fulanis from other West African countries.
Gary

Mr. Dambazzau welcome; for finally recognizing the rights of Nigerians in their homeland over the needs of armed foreign pastoralists flocking into our country to take over our lands.

Now let’s wait and see how you implement the new policies to the benefit of the citizens of Nigeria and end the open-door policy of allowing Fulani from all over West Africa to roam cattle in Nigeria. No country allows foreigners to displace its own citizens in the name of cultural affinity.
If not, the Yorubas might as well invite their kindred from Benin to Sierra Leone to take Coke do farming in Nigeria.
- thusspokez
  
  Yeah blame the foreigners! It sickens me when people do this, particularly in Europe and USA, and now Nigeria?
thusspokez

Mr. Dambazau said with the policy in place, the NIS would be empowered to register and monitor the entry and movement of foreign herdsmen who come into the country. According to him, this will also go a long way in checking the herdsmen and farmers clashes.

I am still no wiser how the new policy will change anything — given Nigeria’s porous borders. He didn’t even mention any extra funding — which makes me to conclude that this is an inept PR stunt.

I also wonder if Mr. Dambazau is aware of the 1979, ECOWAS Protocol on the ‘Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment’ — which was adopted by all member states?
thusspokez

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that…

You mean to say that an important news media like “our” PremiumTimes was not even invited? Shocking!

Clearly, this goes to show that Mr. Dambazau and his PR people are amateurs who lack knowledge of managing information in the modern age.
- Frank Talks
  
  @thusspokez:disqus
  
  Nigerians destroyed their country by themselves
  
  Nigerians destroyed their own country by themselves. That’s why nobody in the outside
  world is expressing sympathy. Nigerians pretended to everything; some of them
  even pretended to be radicals. Whereas they were no radicals – just aspiring
  thieves looking for what to eat or steal. They started out in 1977 and kept
  saying that military officers were the ones ruining the country. They mobilized
  and got students and workers to the streets on mass protest. Then came civilian
  rule in 1999. They voted en masse for the same military general Olusegun Obasanjo
  they had protested against in 1977. What was radical in that electoral choice
  stupidity? They were not done.
  
  In the year 2015 they waved brooms for retired military general Muhamadu Buhari
  whose overthrow they had hailed in 1984. What was radical in that electoral choice
  stupidity? This time the national stupidity was beyond compare because a secret
  was let out before the 2015 election that Buhari may not be constitutionally
  qualified for not showing and therefore not having Wasc/Gce school certificate.
  The radicals pretended they did not see the DISQUALIFICATION CLAUSE inside
  Nigeria’s constitution. The radicals supported Buhari against the country’s
  1999 constitution. The result today is a failed Nigerian state in the throes of
  death.
  - Powerlessconscious
    
    Had gej WON, Nigeria would have been the best and most peaceful country in the world and free from corruption. ILLITRATE. PDP education has really truncated a lot of people’s brain. That is why they find it difficult to reason very well. That is why they do not know that PhD man failed woefully in by open the destiny of Nigerians to the looters.
  - Powerlessconscious
    
    Had gej WON, Nigeria would have been the best and most peaceful country in the works and free from corruption. ILLITRATE. PDP education has really truncated a lot of people’s brain. That is why they find it difficult to reason very well. That is why they do not know that PhD man failed woefully in nigeria by open the destiny of Nigerians to the looters…
- straight-to-the-point
  
  FOREIGNERS DID NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEMS OF NIGERIA. STOP LOOKING FOR SCAPEGOATS.
  
  NIGERIANS MADE STEALING A NATIONAL CAREER AND STOLE THEIR COUNTRY INTO DARKNESS.
  - No-Comment
    
    “A man identified as Orji
    has jumped into the Lagos Lagoon, PREMIUM TIMES has gathered. The man,
    who wasreportedly driven to the spot by a driver, jumped into the Lagoon via
    3rd Mainland bridge. Mr. Orji, identified as a medical doctor, reportedly ordered
    his driver to pull over, dropped off from his Nissan SUV car with registration
    number LND 476 EE and jumped into the Lagos lagoon. A witness told PREMIUM
    TIMES that the incident happened at about 4:50 p.m. around Adekunle axis of the
    Third Mainland bridge.”
    - thusspokez
      
      Respect the topic of discussion here and resist the urge to go off topic!
      - No-Comment
        
        @thusspokez:disqus
        
        DID FOREIGNERS CAUSE DR. ORJI TO JUMP INTO LAGOS LAGOON IN SUICIDE?
        
        NO, IT IS BUHARI’S HOMICIDAL GOVERNANCE THAT CAUSED DR ORJI’s SUICIDE!!
  - thusspokez
    
    Why are you telling me?
    - straight-to-the-point
      
      @thusspokez:disqus :
      
      Sorry O. I am not saying you are one of those who has made stealing a life career. I am only
      saying that a policy targeted at foreigners is self-deceiving red-herring to take attention from
      the elephant in the room in Nigeria. A country where stealing is the most popular profession –
      from president to the porter and including Senators, Ministers, Governors, Commissioners,
      Advisers and Assistants, is no longer a country, but a war zone being prepared for the worst
      form of bloody violence Africa has never seen, because stealing is a violent career, despite
      that those who practise stealing as government officials, franchise the violence aspect of
      stealing to the policemen guarding them from harm from other thieves. But sooner or later,
      blood will flow in Nigeria because this un-civilization of theft can’t be solved without killings.
      - thusspokez
        
        But sooner or later, blood will flow in Nigeria because this un-civilization of theft can’t be solved without killings.
        
        I used to think like you, but I never stopped thinking, and I realised that the people whose blood is going to flow in the rivers Niger and Benue are of the same people who are now suffering — it is never the rich; as they will all escape to enjoy their loots elsewhere. Only the very stúpid ones among them would get caught.
kumi

The new law is to allow Nigeria immigration issue Nigeria passport to refugee from chad , Niger , northern Cameroon Hausa Fulani may Almighty God save this country called Nigeria from evil men that do not want up coming generations to live in peace may all evil men in holding Nigeria down die by fire amen
kumi

Election is coming the ruling party want to win by crook or by force they are now preparing to make refugee that are not Nigerians to be come by force Nigerians we are watching
PolyGon2013

Bull crap. We do not want any foreigners grazing on our land!!!
EBI

This new immigration law is not far-reaching enough. Attempt should be made not only know the number of immigrants coming; also to license those heardsmen that are allowed to operate within Nigeria territory. Furthermore, each of them should be made to pay tax to the federal government. Our grasses are too free for these grazers. They should be made to pay for grasses if they pasture beyound a given area. If their animals are not free, they not be allowed graze on land they did not pay for. People can make a lot of money selling grass and other forms livestock to these heardsmen or people that sent them. The South of Nigeria is full of green grass. It an opportunity to make money from these normards. Where they restricted in movement, they should find transport to take the feeds to them. No more free grazing. Nothing goes for nothing. Trains and lorries should only be used to convey cows and other livestock to designated places. Enough of our streets being littered with animal waste. Cow endagering human lives. And incescant maruding and killing of the do call ‘ Fulani Heardsmen coming from neighbouring coutries. They should abide by our laws or be shown the way out – ECOWAS or no Ecowas. Enough is enough.