The Senate is set to complete the work started by the House of Representatives in 2014, after received the report of its Committee on Interior led by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Bagudu, now Governor-elect of Kebbi State.

The report concurs with the version of the Immigration Bill as earlier passed by the Green Chambers. The report also makes several innovative provisions aimed at modernising the Immigration Service and repositioning it to be able to cope with migration challenges of the 21st Century.

Many observers believe that the 1963 Immigration Act under CAP I1 LFN (2004) is outdated and long overdue for overhauling. “Having taken the bull by the horn, the Senate seems determined to give the country a modern Immigration Act before the winding down of the current National Assembly,” a statement by the Nigerian Immigration Service said.

“All eyes are, therefore, on the Senate as it considers the report of its Interior Committee this week. The Immigration Bill when passed will strengthen the capacity of the Immigration Service to be able to man and police the country’s porous, expansive and extensive borders and tackle migration related problems including smuggling of migrants under the Palermo Protocol,” the statement added.

Photo shows the Senate