The Nigerian Senate of the 8th Assembly has uncovered some discrepancies in the data collected on immigration by an agency of government.
Reports on Immigration over their 2017 budget performance has shown serious scam in data management of the agency’s component.
Can of worms were let open immediately Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba representing Anambra South Senatorial district presented his report on Immigration.
The report made available to DAILY POST showed that the Nigeria Immigration Service had entered into various agreements with companies in Nigeria and abroad against due process.
It also pointed out that the immigration entered agreements without time limit, a situation the Senate described as being fraudulent.
Reacting, Senator Bayero Nafada, a member of the committee stressed that efforts to get to the root of the phony arrangement proved abortive as executives of those companies turned down the committee’s invitations severally.
”Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I can confirm to you that Immigration has endless agreement with some companies processing international passport,” he confirmed.
“I keep wondering where agreements takes place without a duration,’ he wondered.
Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekun explained that the nation has been put in bondage by the Nigeria Immigration Service. He lamented that one of the agents contracted to process international passport of Nigerians living in London has never been here.
“Mr. President, Nigeria is on bondage. How can immigration go into agreements without time limit and you see what happens there; there is one of the contractors in London who has never visited Nigeria.”
“Efforts to invite him to appear before our committee proved abortive,” he added.
The lawmaker alleged that there were rackets within the entire transactions where percentages are remitted to the Ministry officials. He also revealed the transactions were shrouded in secrecy as ministry officials would not open up to the committee in the course of interrogation.
In his remark, Senate President, Bukola Saraki ruled that the 2017 budget be stopped until they have complied, sayings that the projected revenue was a shopping the sum of $31 million.
‘What we are talking about here is over $31 million dollars and we must ensure that this nonsense is stopped in this change administration,” he said.
Meanwhile, the report has been referred to the Senate Committee on Immigration and Interior for further investigations.