The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said it has revoked the residence permits issued to expatriate staff in six Nigerian companies, including Intels Nigeria Limited, speculated to be owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Though the Immigration Service gave no reason for its action, fears are that it is not unconnected to Atiku’s indication of interest to contest for the Country’s number one seat by 2019.
NIS in a statement signed on Wednesday by its public relations officer, Sunday James, the directive was handed down by the Comptroller General, Muhammad Babandede.
The statement reads in part, “The comptroller general of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, hereby revoke the Residence Permits of the Expatriate staff of the underlisted companies, in the exercise of the powers vested on him in section 39 subsection 1 of Immigration Act 2015 and section 5, subsection 5 of the Immigration Regulation 2017 after withdrawal of the operational licenses of the under mentioned companies by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority.”
The service listed the affected companies to include: INTELS Nig. Ltd., PRODECO International Ltd, West Africa Machinery Services Ltd, Net Global System International Ltd., MGM Logistics Solutions Ltd., ORIEAN Investment Ltd.”
The statement indicated that, “Consequently, the CGI has directed that the expatriate staff of the affected companies above leave Nigeria not later than 30th November, 2017, failure of which they might be recommended to the Honourable Minister of Interior for deportation.”
Recall that the federal government recently ordered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement it has with Intels Nigeria Limited, rendering the agreement void ab initio.
The integrated logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas logistics sectors is said to be co-owned by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Italian businessman, Gabriele Volpi.
The government’s directive was communicated through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who wrote a letter to the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman.