The Nigeria Immigration Service has placed an officer who was filmed begging a traveler for financial assistance at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, on indefinite suspension.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Comptroller General, Kemi Nana Nandap on Wednesday, according to Nairametrics.
This follows a widely shared video on Nigerian social media showing an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI 2) Okpravero C. Ufuoma, secretly captured asking for money while on duty by a tourist wearing a camera-equipped eyeglasses.
According to the statement, the NIS condemned the officer’s conduct as disgraceful and contrary to the ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing the integrity and professionalism of the Service.
“We wish to inform the public that the conduct of the officer, identified as Okpravero C. Ufuoma, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI 2) at Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, does not reflect the values and ethics of professionalism upheld by the NIS.
“The NIS condemns this misconduct in the strongest terms, as it undermines the ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing our service standards. This disgraceful act is not representative of our commitment to hospitality, reception and courtesy,” the statement read in part.
NIS added, “As a result, the officer has been indefinitely suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary procedures, which are in the accordance with the law and Public Service Rules.”
The statement also mentioned that electronic gates, or “e-gates,” are being installed at all five of the nation’s international airports to help all passengers travel more smoothly and to stop incidences of airport staff begging.
Incidents of improper conducts by NIS immigration officers are not limited to Nigeria. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recently has responded to the growing number of complaints from Nigerians residing in London on a purported extra $300 charge for expedited passport processing at the Nigerian Embassy.
However, These claims have been refuted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which asserts that there are no new fees associated with the official processes of obtaining a Nigerian passport abroad.
