To curtail the acts of terrorism by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Federal Government said yesterday, that it has in the last three months, deported a total of 335 illegal immigrants, repatriated about 4, 214 foreigners? and refused no fewer than 16,998 foreigners entry into the country through the Immigration Service.
Making this disclosure during the on-going 2012 ministerial stewardship platform in Abuja, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, explained that the steps were taken in a response to February 26 directive by the federal government, in which it ordered the immediate easing out of all illegal immigrants from the country.
The minister, who further explained that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) watch-listed 1, 247 persons said, the service was also able to restrict about 3, 298 Nigerians from travelling abroad for allegedly possessing doubtful travel documents.
He added that although, the ministry does not have the mandate to generate revenue for the government, it has been able to rake billions into federal government coffers through the Citizenship and Business Department, where the ministry generated over N190 million.
Other Avenues according to Moro include the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, where a total of N72 million was regenerated within the period from the Private Guard Companies, the Nigeria Immigration Service generated N5.765 billion from issuance of immigration facilities.
It also generated another $11.470 million through the issuance of immigration facilities by Foreign Missions and another $729, 600 as fines which were imposed on certain airlines which brought some inadmissible foreigners to Nigeria.