On his assumption, Babandede immediately reorganised the passport system by decentralising the passport issuing system…

Ben Okezie

The name Muhammad Babandede is synonymous with Nigeria immigration service, not because he is a personnel of the security institution, but because of his pragmatic and patriotic zeal to reposition an institution that has lost its dignity. His appointment couldn’t have come any other time than when it came. He is likened to the Biblical Moses with a presidential mandate to reform and re-strategise the ailing institution. A time was when people pass through the eye of the needle to obtain the green colored passport. A time was when all roads only lead to Abuja before passports can be renewed or issued to new applicants. The stinking odour of extortion before passports are either issued or renewed reached to high heaven.

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Immigration was a very bad product among the citizens especially those in diaspora and even the media. Personnels integrity was at its lowest ebb.

Nigerians cannot forget the botched recruitment exercise by the NIS in 2015 that claimed the lives of 15 applicants, under past Comptroller General, Mr. David Paragang.

Successful leaders are like goldfish that cannot be hidden. Mohammad Babandede has so far exhibited an uncommon trait and qualities of a great leader. One with Sterling qualities made of stainer stuff. An astute and a disciplined leader; such is needed for recommendation and appointment to sensitive ailing institutions in the country. No wonder the President finds joy in appending his signature on each of his innovative and visionary memos, while the supervising minister of internal Affairs is always ready to offer quality advise and a helping hand .

On his assumption, Babandede immediately reorganised the passport system by decentralising the passport issuing system. It is on record that when Nigerians in the Diaspora were going through tough situation before their passports are renewed, Babandede came to their rescue. He and his management team have strategically positioned the deplorable institution known as NIS.

Reeling out his achievements at the recently concluded Comptroller General three days conference in Maiduguri (that is gradually returning to become the beehive of political activities and tourist attraction spot), all the dignitaries and participants were unanimously appreciative of his efforts.

His visionary leadership style is exemplary.

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While reeling out his achievements, it was observed that all the past policies and projects of his predecessors were not

jettisoned but were scrutinised and many were completed. Like the Visa on Arrival (VoA) project which was reformed to remove the human contact – it is web based and would be fully operational early 2019. This project which is the toast of world community, has already attracted global attention.

The upgrading of most of the institutions equipments have been upgraded to the latest technology. Also the institution has been very prominent in the nation’s security and economic development indices. One major issue that stalls efficiency among uniformed institutions is complete neglect of the personnel welfare and promotion. When security personnels are adequately empowered, the nation and their agency stand to gain. It is commendable that apart from addressing the issue of staff stagnation, about 3,405 officers and men have been elevated to their new ranks with an additional 1,392 officers and men that were promoted last September. The rusty curriculum used in their training institutions have been reversed and updated to meet international standard. More so, management and leadership training courses aimed at development has been extended to all the Comptrollers and above with the junior and middle cadre inclusive.

Among the notable reforms are the Visa reforms which are in line with global best practice. The biometric visa initiative has commenced in seventeen Missions across the globe are expected to be deployed at all the airports before the end of 2018.

Records show that between 1st January to 10th November 10, 2018, the institution issued a total of 24,840 approvals for Visa on Arrival and a total of 7,114 Temporary Work Permit requests. Such impressive innovation that is capable of garnering multiple

foreign earnings into the country’s purse cannot be underestimated bearing in mind the accruable economic multiplier effect. Part of his commendable initiative reads:“We have rolled out the biometric Visas (with enhanced security features) in some Missions abroad and efforts are ongoing to reach out to other Missions not yet covered. In addition to relative ease at procuring it now, we have effected some improvements that allow holders to verify the genuineness of the document. This is part of efforts to eliminate forgery and counterfeiting”.(To be continued)

Congratulation!

There is always an expression of relief and flagrant display of joy and gladness after completing a very tasking intellectual exercise that lasted over twelve hectic months at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos Plateau State.The exciting moment is usually exhibited on the day of graduation. This is when each adult student or participants, look back and nod their head like the red neck lizard who after jumping from a lofty height without encountering any hurt, excitedly played around proclaiming that he has conquered all obstacles.

So, these officers went, saw the four walls of the prestigious national institution and were after all listed as graduants and marked as eminently qualified to be addressed as an Alumni.

SECURITY FILE congratulates Brigadier General S. K Usman, Police Commissioners Leye Oyebade, Sanni Mohammed, David Folawiyo, Moses Jitoboh, Yohana Babas and Mu’azu Zubairu.

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