The Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Friday kicked off E-Migrant registration, a programme of the Nigeria Immigration service in the state, declaring that the programme would enhance security of lives.

Governor Makinde, who stated this at the state’s headquarters of the Immigration Service, said that his administration was ready to do everything to enhance peace, safety and adequate security of lives and property among all residents in the state.

According to him, investors are “cowards” who will never show up where there is no guarantee of safety, adding that security is directly linked economic expansion initiatives.

He stated that no meaningful development can take place in a chaotic environment.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also quoted the Governor as saying that the Migrants E-Registration exercise will enhance internal security by helping to identify, verify and determine the migration status of resident migrants in the State in particular.

Governor Makinde also stated that the programme was coming at the appropriate time when Nigeria has security challenges nationally.

According to the Governor, the Migrants E-Registration “is coming at the appropriate time to address national security…it is being done nationally but we are interested in it in particular in Oyo State, because we share borders with neighbouring countries.”

He further said: “This administration places high premium on peace, safety and security of lives and property as no meaningful development can take place in any place where is there is no adequate security. This is because no investor would want to invest in a place where his money will go down the drains.

“Where there is no peace, there can be no development. Hence, I appreciate the introduction of this Migrants E-Registration and thereby further perceive this service as a good partner in progress and capable of living up to their security expectations.”

Governor Makinde also admonished and directed all employers and landlords of foreigners in the state to see it as point duty to key into the laudable programme, stressing that security should be a collective responsibility for all members of the society.

“Ensure that the foreigners/migrants in your employment or house who are eligible for Migrants E-Registration do so on time. The benefits of this laudable programme to the country and the migrants cannot be overemphasised,” Governor Makinde stated.

He, therefore, called for 100 per cent compliance with the programme by eligible migrants without any waste of time, adding that it will enhance the State’s internal security and enable security agencies to have access to information from the database if the need arises.

“As I kick-off this Migrants E-Registration in Oyo State today, I expect 100 per cent compliance from eligible migrants without any waste of time,” Governor Makinde said.

Earlier, the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Mr. Saleh Abdullahi, stated that the Migrants E-Registration entails the enrollment and biometric capturing of all migrants residing in all 33 local government areas of Oyo State or who may wish to stay for a period more than 90 days in line with Section 57 Sub-section 5 of the Immigration Act, 2015.

“The main purpose of this noble exercise is to enhance security by verifying, identifying and determining the Migration Status of resident migrants in the state in particular and, by extension, in Nigeria in general,” he said.

He therefore urged all to key into the laudable programme that is free of any charge and all-encompassing for both regular and irregular migrants.

He said that the failure to comply with this Migrants E-Registration is contrary to Section 57 (5) of the immigration Acts 2015 and punishable with a penalty of three years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 or both.

The event had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Raufu Olaniyan; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Banwo Adeosun; Head of Service, Alhaja Amidat Agboola, among others.

•Photo shows Governor Seyi Makinde (middle); his deputy, Engr Rauf Olaniyan (right), and Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Mr Saleh Abdullahi, during the Flag-off ceremony of Migrant e-Registration, held at the Command Headquarters, Ibadan

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