By Government House Correspondent
The newly Posted Comptroller of Nigerian Immigration Service in Nasarawa State; Comptroller Ubale Sekure has assured the state of his readiness to fish and flush out illegal foreigners who are involved in criminal activities especially those that are engaged in illegal mining activities in Nasarawa State.
Sekure gave the assurance in Lafia the State capital when he led his management team on a familiarization visit to Nasarawa State Governor Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule Friday 2nd August, 2024. “Your Excellency, here with me are very senior Immigration Officers working with me since I resumed office on the 26th June, 2024. Today we decided as management team we decided to pay a you and your cabinet a visit to you to formally present ourselves and get ourselves acquainted with one another. Sir, permit me to use this forum to thank you so much for your tireless support to the Nigerian Immigration Service Nasarawa State Command.”
He reiterated the Immigration Service resolve towards fostering more collaborative initiatives with Nasarawa state government while assuring of the service’s support to the Sate at all times. “We will not relent in our efforts in check- mating all foreigners involved in criminal activities in the state. We are going after them, fish them out and if possiblly repatriate them (send them out of the country), that is our duty here …
“When it comes to experrtriates working in Nasarawa State, we assure you that after this protest, we are going to mobilize our men, send them to the field to check the activities of all the expertriates in the state. More especially those working with mining companies because, some are mining illegally from our intelligent reports …
” So, we are going to send our strong trained team of officers on surveillance, collect their documents, screen them, then verify those who are in the country legally and allowed them continue their operations while those who are illegally we will write our report, send it to you for necessary actions “
Responding, Nasarawa State Governor Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule appreciated the new Comptroller of Nigerian Immigration Service for the visit and for his passion and initiative to rid the state of illegal miners.
” We are happy somebody who is very familiar with our environment is the person who has been sent to come and manage what is happening here in Nasarawa State. And from all indication, you are very familiar with some of the challenges we have in Nasarawa State especially with expatraites who are into illegal mining …
” When you said you are going to send your officers to fish out foreigners; we actually want people to come to Nasarawa State to carryout their activities legitimately. The only problem we have is; if you see people living illegally and they are expatraites. Then most likely, they are also working in conniaval with some of our own people who are living here legitimately …
” So it makes it difficult for you to identify them because the people who should give you proper information, are people who are even concealing them. So it not an easy job to do. I thank you for taking that initiative to do that ” The Governor observed.
Engineer Sule explained further that Nasarawa State is very lucky to have some of the world most sought after minerals potentials which herald’s all-round attractions thereby necessitating the influx of foreign investors along with their expatraites.