FG Places 3,964 Nigerians On Watch List, Suspends Nearly 150,000 Passports
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has placed 3,964 Nigerians on a security watch list, with a directive for their immediate arrest at any of the nation’s international airports.
This move is part of a broader national security initiative, according to the NIS 2020 Annual Report on Suspect Index. The report revealed that 308 individuals were added to the list in 2019, 166 in 2020, while 51 people were stop-listed between the two years. Those on the list are flagged for special security attention, with their travel documents monitored and controlled in coordination with other national security agencies.
In addition to the watch-listed individuals, the NIS disclosed that 3,438 passports are currently being monitored, while 23 individuals have been granted exemptions. The agency clarified that suspect indexing is used to prevent the entry or exit of individuals considered to pose potential risks to national security.
The report stated:
“Suspect index reviews and maintains the list of persons whose entry into Nigeria is prohibited or on whom special instructions are in place. The travel documents are the instruments used to achieve this objective through synergy with other law enforcement agencies and courts of competent jurisdiction.”
In a related development, the NIS confirmed that it has revoked and uploaded 149,875 stolen or lost Nigerian passports to Interpol’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database. This action was carried out through the Web Services for Data Management (WSDM) platform, enhancing global border security.
However, there are concerns that the Federal Government may fail to meet its 2021 revenue projection from immigration-related services, including visas, e-passports, ECOWAS residence permits, and expatriate documentation.
Sources within the NIS indicate that due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions, the number of foreign nationals and expatriates entering Nigeria—particularly from countries like Italy, the UK, South Africa, China, and India—has drastically reduced.
Former Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, had previously noted that the NIS experienced a 40% drop in revenue in 2020, attributing the shortfall to the global pandemic’s disruption of travel and immigration activities.
Historical revenue figures show that the NIS generated ₦20.3 billion in 2018, ₦40.7 billion in 2019, and ₦16.7 billion in 2020, primarily from the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) and related services.
As the NIS continues to enhance border and internal security operations, it remains to be seen how swiftly it can recover its revenue flow amid the lingering global health and mobility crisis.
NO fewer than 3,964 Nigerians are currently on the watch list of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The names of the affected individuals, it was gathered, have been placed with security agencies at the nation’s international airports where they will be arrested on sight.
According to the 2020 NIS annual report suspect index, 308 persons were placed on the watch list in 2019, 166 in 2020, while 51 persons were stop-listed in two years.
No fewer than 3, 438 passports are also being watch, while 23 are on the exemption list.
The report states, “Suspect index reviews and maintains the list of persons whose entry into Nigeria is prohibited or on whom special instructions are in place with respect to entry and departure from Nigeria. The travel documents are the instruments used to achieve this objective through synergy with other law enforcement agencies and court of competent jurisdiction.”
In a related development, the NIS has revoked 149, 875 stolen or lost passports and uploaded them to Interpol’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database via the Web Services for Data Management platform.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the FG may not meet its 2021 revenue projection from NIS services.
Immigration sources said the number of Italians, Britons, South Africans, Chinese, Indians, and other Asians, who constitute a large percentage of expatriates in the country, had reduced on account of travel restrictions imposed by their respective countries.
The erstwhile Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede had said the service recorded a 40 per cent revenue shortfall in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Figures from the NIS showed that in 2018, the immigration service generated N20.3bn from CERPAC; N40.7bn in 2019, and N16.7bn in 2020.