INTERIOR MINISTRY UNVEILS NEW INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE EXPATRIATE ADMINISTRATION, BUSINESS SUPPORT

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has unveiled a series of progressive reforms aimed at streamlining expatriate administration and fostering greater collaboration between the government and the private sector.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting with Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association held in Abuja, the Minister highlighted the purposeful discussions and key decisions reached, which are expected to drive economic growth and enhance national security.

Central to these reforms is the establishment of the Expatriate Support Desk, a new unit within the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

This desk will serve as a permanent interface between the Ministry, the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA), and the organized private sector. Its mandate includes addressing issues related to business permits, expatriate quotas, Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), Temporary Work Permits (TWP), and other private sector concerns requiring government intervention.

The Minister emphasized the importance of transparency and efficiency in expatriate administration, noting that the new Expatriate Administration System (EAS) will eliminate blind spots in the process.

As part of this initiative, a one-day sensitization program will be held in Lagos to engage with the private sector prior to the official launch.

Key decisions include enforcing laws on understudy roles to boost knowledge transfer and job creation, with quarterly reports required from the Department of Citizenship and Business. A joint government-private sector committee will finalize EAS protocols within six weeks.

The government will enforce zero tolerance for companies obstructing NIS operations. Revised fees for citizenship and business activities take effect from 1st May, 2025, alongside a three-month amnesty for regularizing immigration status, after which strict enforcement will begin.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to balancing the protection of Nigerian interests with fostering a business-friendly environment. "We want to collaborate with the private sector to create policies that support economic growth while ensuring compliance with immigration laws," the Minister stated.

These measures are part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to align with Nigeria's economic recovery plan and to strengthen the nation’s immigration framework.

The Ministry remains dedicated to leveraging these reforms for sustainable development and national security.

Ozoya Imohimi
Director, Press & Public Relations