By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Bayelsa State Command. CIS Sunday James on Monday met with Hoteliers and nembers of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW on the need to comply with the rules and regulations guiding hotel inspections and ancillary assignment as enshrined in the Immigration Regulations 2017 Sections 28,29,30,31 and 32.
James warned that an infringement of the aforementioned section may attract invitation or arrest as the case may be in an effort to enforce the stipulated rules.
At the maiden meeting with about sixteen Hoteliers and representative from the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, the strategic stakeholders expressed joy for being part of the NIS 2022 Customer Service Week and first official meeting with the Comptroller.
The Comptroller used the opportunity to charge the Hoteliers and Union of Road Transport Workers to make judicious use of their current positions to help the Country.
“We are coming to add value to your operations. So at anytime you see an Immigration Officer, If the person is disturbing you, let me know. But if the person is doing his or her work, Please work along side with them.
I will not expect Hotel businesses in Bayelsa to suffer because of any unprofessional conduct of our staff and will not arbitrarily arrest anybody unless there is a directive or non compliance with laid down rules and regulations guiding hotel inspections and ancillary assignment as enshrined in the Immigration Regulations 2017 Sections 28,29,30,31 and 32 with respect to the liability of House holders,hotels and boarding houses,information to be furnished by person being accommodated,power of examination of register maintained and power of an Immigration officer to demand for particulars of Migrants by notice in writing addressed to the owner or manager of any boarding-house,hotel,lodging-house,rest house or any premises where lodging or sleeping accommodation is provided ,while adhering strictly to the Hotel Register as prescribed by the Service in the Fourth Schedule,Regulation 29(a) and (c) and Regulation 32(a)”, he said.
James warned that an infringement of the aforementioned section may attract invitation or arrest as the case may be in an effort to enforce the stipulated rules stated,
The meeting with the Hoteliers and Union of Road Transport Workers coincided with the NIS 2022 Customer Service Week flagged-off by the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration Service Isa Jere Idris at the NIS headquarters, Abuja today 14th February, 2022.
Considering the peculiarity of Bayelsa being a Coastal landscape surrounded by water, Marine and off shore activities are the most common,hence the need to sensitise the Hoteliers of the need to maintain up-to-date register of those in their temporary accommodations side by side residents to avoid breach and circumvention of the rules.
The Customer week afforded the Hoteliers and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) the opportunity to rub minds to address issues of concern and put in place Customer Satisfaction survey plans and Customer Appreciation Strategy with the intention to improve on the relationship with the service customers in a wider spectrum not limited to Passport Issuance and Administration where we have the bulk of applicants and a window that demand timely interventions and service delivery worthy of SERVICOM monitoring and evaluation in order to improve daily on Customer Relations and Service delivery.
The Bayelsa Command Passport Office under DCI Abdulmajeed Yabagi Ibrahim,the Passport Control Officer also had its Customers Week flagged-off alongside the other units where applicants are issued documents and facilities with government approved fees charged, such as the CERPAC Office (for Resident Permits)under the Visa and Residency unit, ECOWAS unit an extension of Passport and Other Travel Documents unit at the Command level.
These facilities afford travellers on the waterways and land unhindered access to exit and entry through the recognised points on Bayelsa waterways and hinterland.
Prioritising Customers as valuable assets that must be treated with care with the right attitude and professional touch is at the height of the weeks event.
The Bayelsa State Command appreciates all strategic partners and Customers of the service and assured to deliver as mandated, while protecting the interest of the Nation and the State where the Command is located for ease of doing business, economic development and Secured Blue Border in Bayelsa.
