By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, has commended the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for the significant progress recorded in immigration administration, describing the ongoing reforms as a positive step towards improving transparency, security, and service delivery.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Thursday, Ambassador Mignot welcomed the growing collaboration between the European Union and Nigeria.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum by introducing further reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s work permit regime and enhancing the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors.
The visit also featured the Vice President of the European Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria (EUROCHAM), Mr. Frederik Klinke, alongside other members of the delegation.
Receiving the delegation, Dr. Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a more transparent, secure, and efficient immigration system capable of supporting national development and investment growth.
According to the Minister, the ongoing reforms were necessitated by the discovery of widespread irregularities within Nigeria’s expatriate quota and residence permit framework.
He revealed that investigations conducted during the reform process uncovered extensive abuse of expatriate quotas and permits, including the use of fraudulent documents facilitated by unauthorized agents and intermediaries.
“In several cases, companies unknowingly operated with fake quotas that were never issued by the Nigerian Government. Some agents exploited weaknesses in the old system, charging companies significant sums while processing fraudulent documents,” the Minister stated.
To address the challenges, the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service introduced an integrated digital platform that directly links expatriate quota approvals with residence permit processing.
The new system ensures that quota approvals granted by the Ministry automatically become accessible to the NIS, allowing residence permits to be issued only against valid and verifiable approvals.
“This integration allows us to know exactly who is residing and working in Nigeria. It improves transparency, enhances security, and removes opportunities for manipulation,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo explained.
The Minister further highlighted the benefits of the digital platform, noting that employers can now manage immigration applications directly without relying on third-party consultants or agents.
Under the revamped process, companies can submit applications online, monitor progress through dedicated dashboards, receive automated renewal notifications, and obtain digitally verifiable permits delivered directly via email.
“The purpose of these reforms is to return control to legitimate employers, improve transparency, and eliminate unnecessary middlemen.
Today, companies can process applications directly through their human resources departments without paying excessive consultancy fees,” he added.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo disclosed that several multinational companies operating in Nigeria have already expressed satisfaction with the reforms due to the cost savings, efficiency, and transparency they provide.
In his remarks, Mr. Frederik Klinke emphasized the importance of sustained engagement between Nigeria and its European partners, calling for deeper collaboration on issues of mutual economic and investment interest.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Nigeria and the European Union to strengthening bilateral relations and fostering a more transparent, investor-friendly environment that supports economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development.
