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By Francesca Hangeior

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has condemned the recent shooting of an immigration officer allegedly on the orders of a Chinese company operating in Nigeria.

Describing the incident, which occurred in Niger State, as an “attack on Nigeria,” the minister vowed to escalate the matter to the highest diplomatic level, particularly with the Chinese authorities.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 in Abuja on Thursday, the minister stated that there was nowhere in the world such an action would be tolerated.

He said, “I will not go to any country, open a company, and say the immigration service cannot come out. I will not do that.

“I don’t want to mention the company here, but they shot one of our immigration officers. They told their security attaché to shoot our officer, and he did— a foreign company?

“That happened a couple of weeks ago in Niger, and we are going to take it up with the Chinese embassy because it’s a Chinese company.

“I won’t go to China as a Nigerian, enter a company, and tell my security to shoot a government official in uniform. It’s never done anywhere in the world. That alone is an attack on Nigeria.”

The minister stated that the officer was simply carrying out his lawful duties when the incident occurred.

“For a father to leave his children to fulfil his legitimate responsibility, go to a company, and say, ‘I need to see your expatriates, let’s see your list,’ just to ask questions— and the next thing, you lock the gate and shoot him?” he asked.

He vowed that such incidents would no longer be tolerated.

“That is a diplomatic issue, and we will handle it. It will not happen again. So we are going to be very firm. We will not disturb your business or overburden your operations.

“But don’t make us inferior in our land. We are going to be very tough on this. I’m not just speaking with passion; I’m speaking with anger.”

The minister warned that the government has the authority to revoke business licenses and declare companies operating with impunity illegal.

“No company is above the law. We will not tolerate it. No agent, no company is above the law.

“We are doing our best to make things easier and to collaborate with businesses. But please, we beg you, do not insult us. We will not disrespect you. As long as the president remains in office, nobody will disrespect you in Nigeria. All we ask for is mutual respect,” he stated.

Tunji-Ojo also announced the introduction of an Expatriate Administration System from May 1 to monitor foreign workers in the country.

“We will not allow the abuse of our immigration protocols. We will not accept that. By May 1, for expatriates and foreign workers in Nigeria, there will be a new Expatriate Administration System.

“We want to know where you are, what you are doing, and we want to be accountable for everyone in Nigeria. There will be a three-month window— from May 1 to August 1— for the regularisation of immigration status in line with our laws.

“After that, we will move into enforcement, prosecution, and deportation. Anyone who does not comply has ulterior motives for being in Nigeria.

“We welcome foreigners, but only if they are ready to obey the laws of Nigeria.

“When I visit the U.S., the U.K., or China, I obey their laws. Nigeria is not inferior. If you come to Nigeria, obey its laws. It’s not too much to ask.”

The minister also announced the launch of an Online Visa Approval Center to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and reduce corruption in the visa application process.

Commissioned by the President in December, the new system ensures that applicants no longer need to visit a visa office, know anyone in the system, or lobby for approvals.

“We don’t have a physical Visa Approval Center. If you apply for a Nigerian visa anywhere in the world, you do so online. We process it here in Nigeria, and if approved, you receive your e-visa in your email,” he explained.

To enhance efficiency, the government has set a 48-hour deadline for processing e-visas.

“It is unprofessional and unacceptable for the Nigeria Immigration Service not to approve or provide feedback within 48 hours,” the minister stated.

The Controller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, said the NIS would fully digitize its e-visa platform and reduce visa classifications from 79 to 44 to enhance accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in the new visa policy.

She said, “At the core of this policy is the new e-visa platform. A fully digitized, centralized system that revolutionizes how foreign nationals interact with our country’s entry procedures. As part of this transformation, the Nigerian Visa Policy 2024 underwent a comprehensive review, resulting in a significant reduction in the visa classifications from 79 to 44.

“These categories have been logically grouped to simplify procedures, reduce complexities and greatly improve the user experience. Importantly, we have maintained the original purpose and intent of each visa class throughout this reform.”