- Seeks eradication of functions duplication to ease facilitation
Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS) Murtala Muhammed Airport Command has canvassed improvement of the ambiance around the Visa on Arrival ( VOA) facility at the Terminal One of the MMIA stating that as the first vista to glimpse the country, a better ambiance would send the right message to passengers and mainly investors.
This is just as the command wants to reduce duplication of functions by curbing multiple checks by other agencies can curb some shortcomings in the facilitation process and increase efficiency.
The MMA Comptroller Immigration Service, CIS Adeola Adesokan made these known as she played host to the Technical Committee on the Mordenisation of Nigeria Immigration Service Operations at the airport while also emphasizing synergy with sister agencies and airport operators.
She was addressing the Comptroller General NIS, Isah Jere Idris represented by technical team leader, Deputy Controller General (DCG) and Head Border Management Directorate of the Service, Muhammad Aminu Muhammad mni after inspection of immigration facilities around the terminals one and two of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to DCG Muhammad,” Immigration is supposed to be an evolving organisation and by evolving I mean we have to be dynamic and change change with times and trends so we are not far behind. For us to catch up with other countries, we need to be changing.
“The ICMPD approached the CG with their idea to modernise the immigration service and they are ready to sponsor all it takes to modernise the service.”
Further appealed that NIS be given necessary considerations in terms of space to operate and project the nation.positively.
He further said, “…as the face of the nation with the mandate of welcoming those who would seek to invest in the nation’s economy, officers especially those at the gateways must treat people well and that is what the service must do. And they need to have the right environment too to do that.”
Adesokan who spoke shortly after told also highlighted need to improve the ambiance of the Visa on Arrival ( VOA) at the MMIA as it is a strategic area for government and increase equipment to reduce time spent on queues
She said,” The CG sent us a lot of equipment but we want to have more, we want more counters too. He has deployed more computers to us so people will not wait long time in the queues.
“Visa on arrival generates foreign exchange and it is a service window where people come in and we are the first faces they interact with , the image of the nation so to speak. People come to get visas for business, tourism etc and so improving the ambiance of the place will do us good as a nation and be attractive to foreign investors, she compelled.
The technical team drawn across civilians, paramilitary and ex military inspected immigration counters at the Departure Hall of terminal one, Server room, duty offices and in the Arrival Visa on Arrival facility, counters, training centre as well as same facilities in the newly built terminal two, showing a contrast of situations.
The team during inspection discovered that in the departure, airlines had 58 check in counters serving them while immigration had 13 counters with only seven (7) in use which during peak period or when more than one airline is processing passengers makes it hectic and slows down facilitation and lack of space for secondary screening if needed.
In the committee are Head of Office, ICMPD West Africa Dr. Mojisola Sodeinde, Representative of the Minister of Interior, Special Assistant to the Minister, Ademola Adeyinka, Dr Eddy Akpomera, Associate professor, Political Science department, University of Benin, Gender Mainstreaming expert among others.
