From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
A Niger Delta Think Tank, the Movement of Intellectuals for National Development (MIND), has commended the Federal Government over its directive on strict compliance with the Nigerian Immigration Law.
MIND, in a letter to the Minister of Interior, signed by its Western Coordinator, Ebi Warekromo, stated that the Ministry’s firm statement condemning the abuse of Nigeria’s immigration framework by certain expatriate workers and their employers operating within the country was a welcome development.
According to him, the Ministry’s ‘’clear and decisive position sends a strong signal that the Federal Government remains committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s immigration system, and safeguarding employment opportunities that should rightfully be available to qualified Nigerians.’’
Warekromo, while recalling a recent petition by the group that was submitted to the National Assembly, vowed that it would continue to work with all relevant agencies of the government to expose abuse of Nigeria’s Immigration Law.
The statement read in part: ‘’Our organization had recently submitted a petition to the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, highlighting disturbing patterns of non-compliance with immigration and expatriate quota regulations by some multinational corporations operating in Nigeria.
The petition specifically drew attention to issues relating to the operations of TotalEnergies Nigeria, including allegations of expatriate personnel occupying positions that are ordinarily meant for Nigerians, the misuse of expatriate quota approvals, and practices that undermine the objectives of Nigeria’s labour and local content policies.
It is therefore highly reassuring to note the Ministry’s strong condemnation of such practices and its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with Nigeria’s immigration laws. We believe this position is both timely and necessary to protect national interests, strengthen institutional accountability, and ensure that expatriate participation in Nigeria’s economy genuinely contributes to skills transfer and national development.
In light of this, the Movement of Intellectuals for National Development expresses its readiness to work constructively with the Ministry of Interior and its relevant agencies in identifying and addressing cases of immigration law violations. We believe that collaboration between regulatory institutions and responsible civil society organizations will significantly enhance efforts aimed at curbing these detrimental practices.
