Return your diplomatic passports or we will seize it- Babandede

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has asked all former commissioners, lawmakers, and ministers to return their diplomatic passports to avoid embarrassment at airports.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, warned those that fall into this categories to submit their diplomatic passports to the NIS or it will be taken away from them at airports.

Only former presidents, vice-presidents, and heads of states are qualified to hold on to their diplomatic passports for life, Sahara Reporters reports.

Babandede also said agreement have been made with the National Assembly for incoming lawmakers’s severance package to be witheld until their they return their diplomatic passports after their term in office.

“For the incoming National Assembly members, we have written to the clerk (of the National Assembly) that they should tie their benefits to the return of their diplomatic passports.

“Any member of the Senate or House of Representatives leaving office must return their diplomatic passport before getting their severance benefits. The clerk has accepted the condition,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced that it has migrated to a web-based portal to be used to apply for visa-on-arrival facility with effect from May 13.

Its public relations officer, Sunday James, announced this in a statement on Monday, May 13.

James said that prior to the migration to a web-based portal, applicants were expected to forward applications for visa via email or hard copy to the comptroller general for approval.

The spokesman, however, said that with the web-based regime, applicants would only be required to log onto www.immigration.gov.ng where they could apply for the facility, make payment, and receive approval online.