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LAGOS – The National Association of Retired Immigration Officers (NARIO) has distanced itself from a report attributed to them criticising the performance of Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior and Mrs. Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
A statement on Tuesday by E.S Kaura Assistant Comptroller-General, NIS, (rtd), said that his members were unaware of the newspaper report with the headline: ‘NIS Retirees Kick Over Absence of Interior Minister, CGI at Stakeholders’ Meeting,’ noting that it never at the meeting demanded the sack of Nandap.
Kaura insisted that it never authorised the publication, adding that none of its chapters or members acted on its behalf.
The statement insisted that the article contained false and disparaging statements seemingly intended to undermine Tunji-Ojo and Nandap.
The statement hinted that the Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Workshop organised by the NIS on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at its Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja, was a routine engagement between the service and its retired officers.
The group declared that Its purpose was to exchange institutional knowledge and strengthen the service.
It explained that the recent workshop specifically focused on sensitising participants to the 2025 New Visa Policy (NVP), noting that discussions were robust, objective, and constructive, drawing on lessons from previous reforms in 2020 and 2022.
The statement added: “NARIO believes the 2025 NVP is both timely and aligned with global best practices. Once operationalised, it is expected to enhance accessibility, timeliness, and security, while boosting the national economy and attracting Direct Foreign Investment (DFI).
“These were the issues that dominated the forum—not any form of malice or disrespect to individuals, as misrepresented in the said publication.”
The group therefore urged the Comptroller-General to continue with the planned sensitisation workshop in Lagos, which is scheduled for this Thursday, where its members were already mobilised to participate.
The group expressed that as a lawful corporate body, NARIO reaffirmed its commitment to the continuous growth of the NIS and its vital role in migration management, governance, and Nigeria’s overall security architecture.