The drama at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja between Senator Natasha Uduaghan and officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on duty calls for caution. We are not in a banana Republic,where lawlessness is the order of the day. Personal grouse should not be reflected as a national problem.
As a researcher, I read from the Order 16 of the Senate Standing Orders,2023, that all Senators must notify the Senate President before travelling outside the country. Same with the Section 63 of the Nigerian Constitution. What went wrong? We must understand that the Immigration Security Clearance at the airport has several notifications and directives. When you are watch listed or stop listed you must obtain a vacation order from a competent authority; the court,the security service that actioned the individual.
Repeatedly the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has been lampooned and dragged into a fight that was self inflicted by the person complaining.
Severally, politically exposed persons have been restricted from proceeding on a booked or scheduled trip that they embarked upon knowing fully well that they have a score to settle with government, security services or an impending case that was already flagged and the individual was to be denied departure or entrance.
The author has carried out lawful refusal of admission or departure in the line with official job description and delegated assignment at the airport and other border posts in 35 years.
High profile individuals must respect the rule of law and the Immigration Security Clearance protocols to avoid creating scenes at the airport or any border crossing points.
Nigerians on arrival outside the shore of the country complies with all the rules. What is the issue at home?
Can we rewind to be patriotic and allow the global community respect our sovereignty and stop the dramas that embarrasses the country and the officials on duty?
ACG James Sunday (RTD)is the former Head of Media, Nigeria Immigration Service.
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