IT was jubilation galore and tears of joy as friends, well wishers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) stormed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA) Command to send forth Comptroller Abdullahi Dalhatu and five(5) others who retired from service.
The five other retirees are Deputy Comptroller Immigration Almaruf Shinaba, ACi, Jimoh Dare, Ibrahim Tunde Mohammed, CSi Clara Ogah, CSI Umaru Sule Churchill all retired.
Dalhatu who joined the service in 1987 officially took over the reins of office on February 19, 2021 and has previously served in Gongola ( now Adamawa) state command, Sokoto Command, service Headquarters, passport office Alausa, Passport office Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport as well as Kano and Katsina State commands before his most recent deployment.
Regional Airport Manager, Mrs. Victoria Shinaba extolled the virtues of the outgoing CIS Dalhatu stressing that her time working with him has shown the meaning of teamwork and getting things done immediately.
According to her, since Dalhatu came onboard, the operations at the airport has seen a lot of transformation.
Comptroller Customs and Directorates of state Security ( DSS) who spoke on the occasion both agreed that Dalhatu is an advocate of synergy and has provided a positive shift that would not have been possible without synergy.
Just as the Customs Comptroller described him as humble and down to earth.
Capping it off, the retired Comptroller, Dalhatu in his remarks thanked all for their kind words and expressed gratefulness that he was retiring as the most senior immigration officer from his state and the only one of the now 31 heads of MMIA Command to retire as Comptroller of the Zone.
He was happy being part of the evolution of the service and be part of the history while advising officers to be humble, loyal and to show commitment as it would pay in the long run.
In an emotional speech he asked officers to have the fear of God and pray hard as it has helped signal the end of his chosen career.
“I am overwhelmed with this event signalling my exit from service. A couple of hours ago, my attention went to the board of role of honour and I saw thirty (30) Comptrollers have headed this command. When I checked the first on the list that headed this command, he headed it on the rank I was appointment into the service…I am the only that is retiring as Comptroller of this command. It touched me..”
He commended the efforts of sister agency and called for deepening synergy while urging them to give similar support to his successor.
