By Tukur Muntari
#TrackNigeria: The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kano state, has warned non-Nigerians resident in the state to stay away from the Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections or face the wrath of the law.
The state’s Comptroller of NIS, Mr Isiyaka Yusuf gave the warning when he visited members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Press Centre in Kano on Wednesday.
He said the warning became necessary as the agency would not hesitate to apprehend any non-Nigerian found on the voting queue during the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
“The election is meant for Nigerians so non-Nigerians are not expected to participate in the exercise,” he said.
According to him, the agency had met with the leaders of all non-Nigerians residents in the state with a view to enlightening them on the dangers of violating the law.
He said the meeting was organised to ensure strict adherence to the law, which prohibits any non-Nigerian from participating in elections in the country.
He said the agency has confiscated a number of permanent voter cards across the country, stressing that the agency would continue to work with other security agencies to track down recalcitrant offenders.
The NIS boss said the agency was also working in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that the National Identity card was not issued to non-Nigerians.
“We have confiscated many National Identity cards that were issued in error to non-Nigerians and it will be a continuous exercise,” he said.
Yusuf disclosed that the service had concluded arrangements for the commencement of e-registration for foreign nationals in the country.
He said the exercise, which was expected to commence in April, was aimed at ensuring that foreigners resident in the country were registered.
NIS boss urged Nigerians to support the service in its renewed effort to reposition the service as well as protect the country and its citizenship. (NAN)
