The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed that it has intercepted and confiscated some voter cards from migrants, but did not give details of the volumes of the cards confiscated and the identity of the alleged culprits.
Penpushing reports that Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Isah Idris, made this known Wednesday at a meeting with top management staff of the organisation including zonal coordinators, and comptrollers of commands and formations in Abuja.
The immigration boss declared that stiff sanctions await any migrant who attempts to participate in the forthcoming general elections, electoral process, stressing that his men are committed to ensuring peaceful conduct of the elections by adhering strictly to its statutory responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s border lines.
Penpushing further reports that, a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Amos Okpu, said Comptroller General has reiterated the government’s commitment to a free and fair electoral process for the 2023 general elections.
The statement added that, the Comptroller General charged concerned men and officers of the immigration to upscale surveillance activities in all locations including border crossing points to ensure successful elections.
Penpushing also reports that Idris directed the activation and deployment of all the migration management and border security assets of the service to ensure that ineligible persons particularly migrants are not allowed to participate in the nation’s electoral process.
“To this end, I hereby direct that regular meetings with all the migrants’ communities in the country be intensified to sensitise them on the need for them to stay away from participating in the nation’s electoral process for the 2023 general elections’, he said.
“Divisional Immigration Officers (DIOs) across the 774 Local Councils in the country have been directed to deepen surveillance and engagements with the migrant communities in their areas to ensure that no migrant gets involved in the elections’, Idris added
Penpushing reports that, he emphasized the service’s ethical obligation and commitment to maintain political neutrality in the discharge of statutory duties, adding that as Para-military Officers, they are prohibited from political partisanship before, during and after the elections.
“Therefore, the Service is seizing the opportunity to sensitize its Personnel through their respective Comptrollers on the need for them to remain apolitical before, during and after the elections as members of the Service”, he stated
The Comptroller General warned all personnel that any infractions or unprofessional conduct before, during and after the elections will attract severe sanctions, and called for constructive and patriotic engagements among all agencies
Penpushing further reports that, he stressed that synergy and collaboration with stakeholders is an essential ingredients needed to optimally discharge responsibility toward building a better Nigeria of our collective dreams.
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