A security official of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was ordered to shoot a member of the government’s outrage over an incident involving a Chinese expatriate working for a Chinese company in Niger State.
The government also issued a warning that any foreigner who threatens national security will be swiftly blacklisted from its immigration lists, which are white, grey, and black.
At a stakeholder gathering workshop on the implementation of the Nigerian Visa Policy 2025, the Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this disclosure.
The minister said that Nigeria would not tolerate any acts of disrespect toward foreigners conducting business in the nation.
He continued, “One thing I must mention is that some foreign companies who refuse to do their job intimidate the immigration service officers from carrying out their duties of supervision.” That won’t continue.
I’ve got a company I’m starting and say I’ll never go there. No, I won’t do that. I took a very personally incident that occurred. The owner of the business, who requested a security officer shoot one of our immigration personnel, did it, and he succeeded. In Niger State, that happened about a week ago. And we’ll discuss it with the Chinese Embassy. That business is located in China. I’m not going to China and opening a business and telling my security to shoot a government official in uniform. Nowhere in the world does it ever take place. That is an attack on Nigeria by itself, and it will never occur.
“These officers put their lives in danger,” they said. You won’t ask these officers to shoot them in their homeland unless they serve this country with all of their might. It won’t continue to exist. We’ll discuss it with you. It won’t continue to exist. I have no idea what it would be. To protect Nigeria, a father must go to a company and say, “I need to see your expatriates.” Please show us your list. I’m here to do the job, so I just have to ask questions, and when you say that, the gate should be locked. The immigration officer was shot, and you said, “If you don’t do it, I’ll say they should shoot you.” That is a diplomatic concern. We will handle it.
It won’t occur again, they say. We will work very hard, then. We won’t let go of your business. We won’t burden your company with extra work. But in our own country, don’t treat us like we’re inferior. Please, no.
“And we’re going to be very tough with this,” he continued. I’m not just talking passionately. Because the officer who was shot is a Nigerian, I’m talking with a lot of anger about this. A terrorist did not shoot the man, but his son did. Someone has a son named him. He and someone else are married. That is unavoidable anywhere in the world. It won’t be tolerated by us. No agent or business is above the law, please. We are all within the law.
We’re trying our hardest to make things simple, so please. Although we’re trying our hardest to work with you, we ask that you refrain from insulting us. We won’t treat you disrespectfully. Nobody in Nigeria will treat you disrespectfully as long as the president is in office.
“But we only ask for reciprocity in respect.” He continued, “That is not too much,” he said.
The ambassador-led Chinese delegation had earlier met him to complain that they were being blacklisted, but the minister claimed Nigeria wasn’t blacklisting China.
“And I do so in full force here. Nigeria has a significant trade relationship with China. And I repeat this throughout.
Under the direction of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will never be able to paint a single brush across a street. There are Nigerians present. Chinese people are performing exceptionally well in our economy here. Indians are investing a lot of money in our economy. Americans are present. There are Europeans, and some of them are questionable, just like there are many good Nigerians. Same for each and every country.
“We won’t paint a single brush across the entire street,” he said. We will not allow the abuse of our immigration protocols, as we have already stated, and I want to reiterate because we are going to work very hard on this. That is not what we will accept. By the first of May, there will be an “expatriate administration system” for all foreigners in Nigeria and those who work there, as a matter of fact.
We want to be held accountable for everyone in Nigeria, regardless of where you are or what you’re doing. A three-month window will be provided. I call for regularization of immigration protocols in accordance with our laws from May 1 through August 1 to allow for an asylum window.
“We will move on to the era of enforcement, prosecution, and deportation after that.” For those who don’t, we want to give you an opportunity before we act because we know there are currently many violations of our immigration policies. Anyone who doesn’t meet that criteria obviously has other reasons to reside in Nigeria. We want you in Nigeria, but only if you are willing to abide by the country’s laws, he declared.
The Nigerian Visa Policy 2024 underwent a comprehensive review earlier than the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nana Nandap, which led to a significant reduction in the visa classifications from 79 to 44.
To simplify procedures, lessen complexity, and significantly improve the user experience, these categories have been logically grouped. Importantly, throughout this reform, we have kept the original goals and objectives of each visa class. With the introduction of e-visa classes, for the first time, applications for visas to Nigeria can now be submitted online and verified, avoiding the need for in-person consulate or embassie visits.
The process is now simpler, faster, and more accessible whether you are a tourist, business traveler, academic, or dual national. 13 distinct e-visa classes are included in this robust e-visa framework. The business visa and the tourist visa were the only classes that the visa on arrival (VOA) had prior to now.
