Nigeria: FG Moves to Repeal Immigration Act

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: FG Moves to Repeal Immigration Act

Juliana Taiwo

7 May 2009

Abuja — The Federal Executive Council yesterday approved the repeal of the Immigration Act 1963. The Council equally approved the Draft Immigration Bill 2008.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, said the Draft Immigration Bill seeks to "Change the nomenclature of the Head of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from Director to Comp-troller-General of Immigra-tion.

"Provide for the establishment of a special court to be known as the immigration court solely to determine matters of immigration and to ensure speedy disposition of immigration cases and review the offences and punishment which is particularly necessary as the fines provided in the 1963 legislation is regarded as minimal in these times as to also ensure that immigration law violators are adequately punished while potential violators are deterred.

"For your information, the approval by council today for the passage of the immigration bill is an attempt to remove from Nigeria's statute books, old and outdated legislation and introduce new one that is in line with best practices the world over."

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