By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has a vital role to play in the success of the $14bn Dollars Indian Investment pledges in the country, the Comptroller of Immigration Rivers State Command CIS James Sunday has said.
Justifying the importance of the role of the agency towards the successful implementation of the investment, James posited that it will serve as the first gate keeper for the issuance of visas and permits both for entry and residence and taking up employments in various sectors of the economy, monitoring of expatriate quota grants, business permits and most importantly strategic visas such as business visa for high net worth investors.
He added that the agency will also issue visa on arrival for ease of travels for business owners, shareholders and new investors in the spirit of ease of doing business, making Nigeria a most preferred destination for business, hospitality,tourism and other related economic drives.
His words, ” It is no longer news that a multi- billion Dollars Indian companies investment pledges has been secured by Nigeria.
” It is pertinent we take a critical look at the vital roles of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
” Unlike in the past, Mr.President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team of experts have layed the Political and Economic platform to get the Indian Investors to commit to $14bn Dollars Pledge in diverse economic activities,.
“:What does this hold for a critical players such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, an agency saddled with the Control of Entry and Departure into the Country and out of it.
“:The NIS will serve as the first gate keeper for the issuance of Visas and Permits both for entry and residence and taking up employments in various sectors of the economy, monitoring of expatriate Quota grants, Business Permits and most importantly Strategic visas such as Business Visa for High Net worth Investors,Visa on Arrival for ease of travels for Business Owners, Shareholders and New Investors in the spirit of Ease of Doing Business, making Nigeria a most Preferred Destination for Business , Hospitality,Tourism and other related economic drives”.
In a statement signed by him, made available to New Nigerian Newspaper, the Rivers State NIS Comptroller, who tagged the economic drive as “Tinubunomics”, counseled that the Economic drivers must guide against the pitfalls of over dependency on foreign interventions and fundings to making a value addition for our local products and raw materials to convert waste to wealth,and enforce laws on Minning,Explorations and Land allocation for Industrial Developments.
” This all important Nigeria’s Economic Drive, which I will acronym as “Tinubunomics”, will need the full cooperation of game players like the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria ports Authority, NIMASA, NNPC Ltd,Aviation Industry players, Ports Health, NIPC, NEXIM Bank,Other Commercial and Industrial Banks and the enabling Laws of the Country Governing Investment, Agreements, MOUs, Incorporation etc.
” The Country is over ripe for diversity of Investments and the ground is fertile.
” The Economic drivers must guide against the pitfalls of over dependency on foreign interventions and fundings to making a value addition for our local products and raw materials to convert waste to wealth,and enforce laws on Minning,Explorations and Land allocation for Industrial Developments.
” The Ministries, the Departments and Agencies must, directly or indirectly, relate to the Economic Drive of the country and must be made to contribute their quota by actionable plans, deliberate and conscious implementation of government policies within time frame, eliminating time wastages, bottlenecks, overbearing cost of doing business in Nigeria that has resulted in many investors moving to Ghana and other African Countries from Nigeria to invest elsewhere while closing down in Nigeria or selling off their shares.
” The Nigeria Immigration Service have a critical role to play in encouraging investors and Investment drives by being flexible, highly professional, digitally oriented, business conscious and focused on improved services to Champion the Ease of Doing Business in the areas of Entry and Departure, Issuance of all categories of Visas and Permits, Monitoring of Expatriate Quota grants, Business Permits and other vital Immigration Services with respect to Investment and Business Climate in Nigeria”.
