Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, has condemned the shooting of an immigration officer allegedly on the orders of a Chinese company operating in Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo spoke at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on
implementing the Nigeria visa policy 2025 on Thursday in Abuja.
The minister condemned the incident, which happened in Niger
state, describing it as an “attack on Nigeria”.
“I will not go to any country, open a company, and say the
immigration service cannot come out. I will not do that,” Tunji-Ojo said.
“I don’t want to mention the company here, but they shot one
of our immigration officers. They told their security attaché to shoot our
officer, and he did— a foreign company?
“That happened a couple of weeks ago in Niger, and we are
going to take it up with the Chinese embassy because it’s a Chinese company.
“I won’t go to China as a Nigerian, enter a company, and
tell my security to shoot a government official in uniform. It’s never done
anywhere in the world. That alone is an attack on Nigeria.”
Narrating the incident, the minister said the officer was
carrying out his lawful duties before the firm acted difficult.
“For a father to leave his children to fulfil his legitimate
responsibility, go to a company, and say, ‘I need to see your expatriates,
let’s see your list’, just to ask
questions — and the next thing, you lock the gate and shoot him?” Tunji-Ojo
asked.
“That is a diplomatic issue, and we will handle it. It will
not happen again. So we are going to be very firm. We will not disturb your
business or overburden your operations.
“But don’t make us inferior in our land. We are going to be
very tough on this. I’m not just speaking with passion; I’m speaking with
anger.”
The minister reminded foreign firms that the government has
the authority to revoke business licenses and declare companies operating with
impunity, illegal.
“No company is above the law. We will not tolerate it. No
agent, no company is above the law,” he added.
“We are doing our best to make things easier and to
collaborate with businesses. But please, we beg you, do not insult us. We will
not disrespect you.
“As long as the president remains in office, nobody will
disrespect you in Nigeria. All we ask for is mutual respect.”
On Tuesday, Tunji-Ojo announced the introduction of an
expatriate administration system from May 1 to monitor foreign workers in the
country.
The announcement came as the minister said Nigeria would
begin to clamp down on irregular migrants.
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