Don’t Register Foreigners, Reps Warn NIMC

The House of Representatives on Wednesday cautioned the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) against the registration of foreigners resident in Nigeria as Nigerians.

It urged the commission to exercise due diligence by putting in place security measures that could confirm the nationality of every person seeking registration.

The house further mandated its Committee on Interior to monitor the exercise and report progress as well as challenges to the house periodically.

This resolution followed a motion by Rep. Uzo Azubuike (PDP-Abia) which was unanimously adopted without debate in Abuja.

According to him, some people with doubtful origin as Nigerians numbering more than 1,000 are enrolled as origin from the FCT in the ongoing enrolment in some centres in Abuja.

“Some people with doubtful origin as Nigerians numbering more than 1000 claim that they are from communities outside the FCT and they are enrolled as such without further verification,’’ he said.

He said given the current security situation in the country there was need for the ongoing registration exercise to be conducted with security measures in place.

Azubuike said that this measure would prevent foreigners from being registered as Nigerians.

“Without due diligence and adequate security measures, the implication of registering immigrants as Nigerians are far reaching,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, has presented Niger Delta Development Commission 2014 budget of N322 billion to the house.