FDI CHAIRMAN, MR. UKPEH, ASSURES NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE (NIS) OF SEAMLESS SYNERGY.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Akwa Ibom State Command, has been assured of seamless synergy between its officials and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), Akwa Ibom State, as a potent measure at boosting investment fortunes of the State via enhanced relationship with foreign investors.

The Chairman, Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, Mr. Gabriel Ukpeh, gave the assurance this morning, Thursday February 24,2022 in his office, while addressing a delegation comprising the State Comptroller of Immigration Service, CIS George C. Fidel and his team, who visited his office in courtesy.

As a potent step at facilitating a seamless working relationship between the officials of the Immigration Service and foreign investors, with a view to fostering an enabling investment environment in the State, the FDI boss hinted the delegation on his planned sensitization meeting involving the Nigeria Immigration Service and foreign groups coming into the State on investment mission.

Mr. Ukpeh, Chairman of a 10-member Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, at the forum, made a stunning disclosure of humongous investment strides undertaken by Akwa Ibom State Government, which he noted, would expand the investment horizon in the state and also support the industrialization blueprints of the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

While he commended the Immigration boss, CIS Didel, for his team-work approach, and for enlightening him more on the scope of work covered by the Immigration Service in the State, Ukpeh, a former banker, made an advocacy for cross-functional collaboration between the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Customs, especially in the marine boarder zones, as a productive measure towards ensuring effeciency in service delivery and cost effectiveness.

Mr. Ukpeh, flanked by one of the Legal Team players in FDI, Barr. Hilary Ekpo, expressed appreciation to the delegation for taking the lofty initiative of visiting him and other critical stakeholders in the state, and promised to reach out to the state Chief Executive with their challenges, assuring them that Governor Emmanuel is a listening leader.

On the issue of application of appropriate control in the issuance of passports and other travelling documents, the FDI Chairman advised the leader of the team,Didel, to come forward with relevant documents that would serve as requisite guides to immigrants, particularly foreign investors.

Earlier, the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State Command, CIS George C. Didel, had called for seamless synergy between the Chairman of FDI, Mr. Ukpeh, and the Immigration Service in the State, so as to be guided in his control of persons and groups who come into the State, mostly in the areas bordering on issuance of visas and other travelling documents.

Mr. Didel, who lamented that some immigrants, particularly in the marine boarder locations, have defaulted the requisite cross-boarder travelling conditions, stated his resolve to patrol the marine boarder lines, to check illegal immigrants.

The State Immigration boss,Didel, regretted that their job has been greatly hindered due to lack of marine boat and other logistical enhancements, and made a passionate appeal to the FDI boss, to channel their challenges to the state Governor for positive consideration.

On his plan to sensitize Akwa Ibom people on the core duties of the Immigration Service in their Communites, the state Immigration boss said, he would mount a sensitization workshop in that regard.

CIS George C. Didel, who condoled Mr. Gabriel Ukpeh, Chairman, FDI, over the death of his dear mother at 93, was reported to have bagged an Award of Excellence for his Grassroots Involvement, recently in Nsit Atai LGA.

Didel was recently deployed to Nigeria Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State Command, as his first duty station in his new capacity as Comptroller of Immigration Service.