As part measures to reduce the cost of doing business in the country,the federal government has commissioned 28 additional centres for the production of Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC). This brings to 36,the number of such centres in the country.
CERPAC is aimed at automating the operations of the Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), for the issuance of resident permits to expatriates residing and working in the country.
Commissioning the centres, Monday in Abuja, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau said the current structure would ease the stress of doing business in Nigeria. He however added that Borno and Yobe states were yet to have CERPAC centres.
“Government’s commitment to effective and efficient service delivery with a view to creating the enabling environment for attracting Foreign Direct Investments FDIs.
“This initiative which will certainly enhance the capacity of the NIS to discharge its statutory duty of internal monitoring and control of foreigners in Nigeria is equally in tandem with the letter and spirit of the recent executive order on promoting transparency and efficiency for the creation of an enabling business environment”.He stated.
In his welcome address, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede urged field officers in the centres to expedite action in delivering on their mandate.
The NIS boss said there would be rewards for excellence, while those who falter in their duties would be sanctioned appropriately.
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