The
Nigeria Immigration Service has threatened to publish the names of
former Government officials who are illegally in possession of
diplomatic passports.
Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service on parade
While unfolding his programme for the agency yesterday in Abuja,
the Comptroller-General of the The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS),
Martin Abeshi, has issued a threat to publish the names of former
Ministers, Governors and members of the National and State Assemblies
who are illegally in possession of official and diplomatic passports
soon.
It can be recalled that President Buhari had on September 7, 2015, directed the NIS to retrieve the documents from all illegal holders,
mostly former top public office holders, but the NIS
Comptroller-General said most of them were yet to comply with the
directive.
"I am advising that those who have not returned these
facilities [diplomatic and official passports] should bring them because
very soon, I will publish the names of those who collected official and
diplomatic passports.
"I am not going to do it now; I want to respect them because
they were once statesmen in this country, but I am advising that they
should bring those passports in their possession to the Immigration
office now," he said.
Other former public officials that were issued diplomatic passports
include commissioners, special advisers/special assistants,
chairmen/deputy chairmen of local government areas, all retired heads of
parastatals and some retired public servants.
The NIS boss also revealed that over 200 passports have been retrieved since this directive was given.