BREAKING: FG To Punish Chinese Firm Over Shooting Of Immigration Officer

The Federal Government has vowed to sanction a Chinese expatriate for allegedly ordering a Nigerian security official to shoot a personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) who was on legitimate duty at the premises of a Chinese-owned company.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, condemned the attack as a direct assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty.

He made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a Stakeholders’ Sensitization Workshop on the Implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025.

“I will not go to any country, open a company, and tell their immigration service they cannot come in. An incident happened, and I am taking that very personally. A Chinese company ordered a security officer to shoot our immigration personnel, and he did. That alone is an attack on Nigeria,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo warned that the government would escalate the issue with the Chinese Embassy, adding that such actions would not be tolerated in any sovereign nation.

“This is unjust, and we are going to take it up. These officers put their lives on the line to serve this country, and no one will come from anywhere to shoot them in their fatherland. That officer is a father, a son, a husband—his life matters,” he added.

He noted that the federal government is intensifying immigration reforms, including the automation of its White, Grey, and Blacklists to track and swiftly blacklist foreigners who pose a security threat.

The minister announced that starting May 1, 2025, Nigeria will implement an Expatriate Administration System to monitor all foreign workers in the country.

He also said a three-month window will be given for compliance, after which enforcement, prosecution, and deportation will follow for violators.

“We will not allow the abuse of our immigration protocols. We want you in Nigeria, but only if you obey our laws,” Tunji-Ojo warned.

The minister also revealed that a Chinese delegation, led by the ambassador, had approached him to address concerns over alleged blacklisting of Chinese nationals.

However, he clarified that Nigeria was not targeting China as a whole.

“We will never paint an entire nation with a single brush. There are many Chinese, Indians, Americans, and Europeans contributing positively to our economy. But we will not tolerate abuse of our immigration policies,” he stressed.

He stated that, as part of the immigration reforms, the Nigerian Visa Policy 2024 has been revised, reducing visa classifications from 79 to 44 to simplify procedures.

According to the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nana Nandap, this new system will improve efficiency and introduce an e-visa framework with 13 specific categories, which allows applications to be completed entirely online.

“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.

“For the first time, with the introduction of e-visa classes, visa applications to Nigeria can now be complete entirely online, from submission to approval, thereby eliminating the need for in-person visits to embassies or consulates.

“Whether you are a tourist, a business traveler, academic or a Nigerian with dual nationality, the process is now simpler, it’s faster and it’s more accessible. This robust e-visa framework includes 13 specific e-visa classes. Before now, the VOA had just two classes, which was just the business visa and the tourist visa.

“But with the e-visa framework, we have 13 specific e-visa classes. These are carefully designed to accommodate a wide range of short-term travel purposes. Applicants can now choose the most appropriate visa based on the nature of their visit,” Nandap said.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring the dignity of its citizens in dealings with foreign entities.

“As long as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in power, no foreigner will be disrespected in Nigeria. But we demand the same respect in return. No company is above the law,” he declared.