By Ademola Akanni, Abuja
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has recorded a 60% increase in its internal revenue generation in 2019, The Gazelle News.com can report.
This medium also confirmed that the NIS recorded a 13% increase in its offshore revenue generation.
These and other landmark achievements were contained in the 2019 Annual Report of the NIS presented to the public by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
According to the report, the NIS generated a total of N62.610 billion in 2019 which was a 60% improvement on the previous year. Total expenditure was N59.654 billion leaving a balance surplus of N2.955 billion. In 2018, deficit was recorded by the Service as expenditure surpassed revenue.
A total of $41.823 million was generated offshore, a 13% improvement on the $36.909 million generated in 2018.
According to the report, 5,052,588 persons arrived and departed Nigeria in 2019. This is split into 2,206,558 arrival and 2,537,966 departure.
Out of this figure, seaports accounted for 7,518 people, land borders 1,379,459 people and airports 3,632,993 people.
The Gazelle News.com reports further that total visas issued in 2019 were 130,319 while total passports issued were 1,198,274.
The document has other vital data and information which will be useful for national planning, decision making, research work, education and business development.
According to the Minister, “2019 was a year of significant attainment for NIS. Excellent progress was made on implementation of a number of reforms in the area of Border Management, Passport and Other Travel Documents, Visa, Migration Management, Human Resources and Infrastructure.
“I recommend the document to the public. It is our hope that you will find it very useful”.
Speaking further, the Minister urged officers of the Service to continue to keep criminally intentioned persons away from Nigeria noting that their vigilance, more than at any time, is needed now.
He advised them to keep away from Nigerian territory those likely to harm Nigerians and attract to the Nation only those that will help improve the country.
On #Covid19, Ogbeni Aregbesola reiterated that as the officers protect the nation, they must also protect themselves, their families and the people working with them.
“The defender must not be defenseless,” he admonished.
He advised that hygiene must be observed at all times saying that the requiremt of constant handwashing, face covering and social and physical distancing are safety imperatives at all times.
“You can only protect the nation when you yourselves are protected; and you can only save others when you are not endangered,” he said.
