Comptroller General of Nigeria's Immigration, Muhammed Babandede has issued a warning to illegal migrants to desist from entering Nigeria's borders without obtaining a visa.
In an interview on Channels Television, Babandede said any migrant that comes into Nigeria through the land borders without a visa would be returned.
He explained that the visa-on-arrival option was open for Africans and would be restricted to the airports.
The Comptroller-General revealed that the Immigration Service has registered over 240,000 migrants via the e-registration portal provided by the Federal Government. He said 65% of the migrants were irregular before President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari gave the pardon.
Babandede said illegal migrants who come through the land borders would be forced to register because they cannot stay in Nigeria for 90 days off the books.
"They cannot be accepted to arrive through the land borders. There is no way we can take any African to come into Nigeria without a visa. If they do so, they will be returned," the Immigration boss warned.
“Because we have a huge land mass borders, VISA on arrival will be only at the airport. But we have not neglected the lad borders, we have 18 places where we do the biometric scan and the resources will expand those locations.” Comptroller General, @nigimmigration, @babandedemb. pic.twitter.com/JdksvNubNp
— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) February 7, 2020