The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad
Babandede, has urged Nigerians to always adhere to travel protocols
and ensure they have valid passports with valid visa to the country of
their destination before going to any Airport, Seaport or Land Border
Control to avoid refusal to depart.
Babandede’s advice came after the Agency’s Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos, Command refused the departure of 58
Nigerian medical doctors who attempted travelling aboard a U. K. bound
aircraft with flight number ENT 550 and registration number SP-ES that
flew in from London.
visa in a charter flight that showed documentation to take 42 doctors.The 58 medical doctors according to NIS were refused departure in line
with Section 31 subsection 2a and b, on powers conferred on the
Comptroller General of NIS by the Immigration Act 2015, to prohibit
departure of any person under the conditions stated in the Act.The chartered flight approved for landing in Nigeria was to carry 42
medical doctors for a training programme but they were 58 with only
two having visa for entry into U.K., a situation that calls for
refusal of departure.
“The NIS as the Agency saddled with control of persons entering and
departing from Nigeria will not allow individuals or groups of
well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for travelling
out of their country and the requirements, which include having a
valid visa for entry into a destination country, to leave.
“This is to avoid refusal of entry into U.K. and repatriation to
Nigeria amidst COVID-19 pandemic and spreading of same as well as
flouting the federal government’s directive on restriction of
international flights unless for essential reason as approved by
government.
“There is no official communication to the Service from the Ministry
of Health in Nigeria or any known Medical body notifying the NIS of
the travel of this number of medical doctors. The aircraft has
departed for London without the medical doctors,” the NIS stated.
