By YAHAYA ISAH

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated the revised hand book detailing guidelines on expatriate quota administration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said that the review was necessary as the current book, inaugurated in 2004, had become obsolete and subjected to gross violations.

“Having observed that all these years the book had been subjected to series of abuses, I thought it wise to bring about measures that will put an end to it.

“The 2004 edition of the book which provides guidelines for realising its goals, though well thought out when it came out, but now vey obsolete.

“Hence it is very necessary to review it periodically since it is a living document,” he said.

Aregbesola said that the 2004 document also lacked standard and out of tune with modern realities.

“We have engaged everybody to produce this document.

“I also inaugurated a 9-man task force in December 2020 for monitoring and enforcement of expatriate quota administration in the country,” he said.

The minister disclosed that between 2019 and 2022, the ministry had granted 13,829 expatriate quota permits and 1,161 business permits.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the revised book would go a long way in creating seamless conducive business environment.

According to him, the book would allow foreigners to carry out their legitimate businesses in Nigeria without hindrances.

He advised them to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations contained in the guidelines. (NAN)