The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has
implored the immigrants residing in the state to cooperate with the officials
of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for proper documentation and data
capturing.
He admonished them to register with the NIS to
enable the state guarantee their security and welfare as well as afford them
the opportunity to carry out their legitimate businesses in the state.
Oyetola, represented by the Secretary to the State
Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, stated this on Thursday at the state
Command of the NIS in Osogbo during the inauguration of the electronic
registration of migrants residing in the state.
He said: "The e-registration exercise is a
global standard exercise. It is designed for all migrants who are 18 years and
above to register with the Nigeria Immigration Service. This exercise will
serve as a database of all foreigners.
"Consequently, I enjoin all migrants residing
in Osun State to register with the NIS to enable the state guarantee their
security and welfare, and to afford them the opportunity to carry out their legitimate
businesses in the state.
"No nation or state is self-sustaining.
Nigerians and citizens of Osun State, like other world nationals, are all over
the globe contributing their quota to the development of their nations of
residence.
"Osun is the reigning most peaceful state in
Nigeria. It is open to migrants and other non-indigenes who are ready to live
in the state in peace and contribute to the socio-economic and overall
development of the state.
"As a creation of the law, we expect all migrants
to be law-abiding and to know that the instruments of the law shall be invoked
in the event of any infraction even to its own citizens.
"I therefore urge our officials and citizens
to cooperate with the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure seamless
implementation of the exercise."
While commending the leadership of the NIS for
coming up with the e-registration initiative and for applying best practices in
ensuring its implementation, the governor said: "I would also like to
appeal to the good people of Osun State to continue to demonstrate the Omoluabi
ethos of hospitality, good neighbourliness and peace that the state is known
for in their relationship with the migrants and other residents.
"Our administration kicked off on a note of
equitable development and distribution of wealth. The greatest tool for
achieving this set plan is the people. We, therefore, solicit the cooperation
of all citizens and residents to achieve this agenda."
Earlier, in his welcome address, the state Controller
of Immigration, Mallam Isa Uba Panshekara, said e-registration is an exercise
intended to capture biometrics of all non-Nigerians in the country who have
attained the age of 18 years and above and who have stayed or are intending to
stay in Nigeria for a period exceeding 90 days.
He disclosed that the equipment for the e-registration
of migrants has duly been installed while the state command had embarked on
massive sensitisation of the public in the past few weeks through meetings with
stakeholders, including traditional rulers.
According to him, an initial period of six months
grace from the day the exercise was inaugurated in Abuja had been granted by
President Muhammadu Buhari for migrants who fall into the category for registration
to do so, whether they possess valid entry documents or not.
"The e-registration of migrants in the state
is a new initiative by the present administration of President Buhari to have a
comprehensive database of non-Nigerians residing in the country for planning
and security purposes.
"Irregular migrants among this lot are expected
to perfect their stay particulars after e-registration. On expiration of the
period of grace granted, enforcement will begin," he explained.
No comments:
Post a Comment