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The lawamker representing Oluyole federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has called on the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to investigate allegations of bribery against its personnel at land borders and airports.
Akande-Sadipe, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, on Thursday said that allegations of bribe collection from irregular migrants to leave the country are gaining grounds and cannot be jettisoned.
She noted that reports claim that immigration officials at various check points on Nigerian highways and airports have indirectly legalised irregular migration with their ‘cash-for-pass’ attitude.
She, therefore, called on the Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, to act swiftly and look into the alleged acts of misconducts.
She said: “It has come to my notice that some NIS officials collect N50,000 bribe from some irregular migrants to be smuggled out of the country. In fact, there are no secondary checks at the borders and airports.
“However, it is pertinent to commend the Comptroller General. He has been cooperating with our committee, but there are some elements in the Service he needs to fish out.”
She stated that there is an urgent need for NIS to have a firm grip of the borders and migration registration and management in the country, noting that Immigration and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) need to collaborate to stem the tide of human trafficking.