As part of efforts to remove impediments associated with easy of doing business in Nigeria, the Federal Government has launched the harmonized departure/arrival immigration cards
The event took place at Kaduna International Airport this morning.
The cards were unveiled in the presence and admiration of the Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration, Muhammed Babandede , Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Captain Usman Muhtar, Managing director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ), Engr Saleh Dunoma, FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, Managing Director /CEO of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole amongst other stakeholders in the aviation industry.
According to a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Sunday James (ACI) issued on behalf of the Comptroller General Of Immigration Service
The unveiling, is in line with international best practices and in pursuit of the Federal Government Policy of ease of doing business and to keep the records of movement of international passengers, adding that “the process mandates travellers for security reasons to fill the Departure/Arrival Cards, which contains their profile, their addresses and other personal details in one harmonized form” .
According to James “Pursuant to this, non-Nigerians are expected to fill both the Departure/Arrival cards while Nigerians are expected to fill only Departure cards. These cards are scanned and stored in data bank that is to be shared with relevant stakeholders and in that regards, a unique identity and travel records of passengers are secured”.
He said the federal Government of Nigeria has chosen the Kaduna International Airport to formally introduce this unique security document to the travelling public.
“The introduction of this cards replaces the multiplicity of cards hitherto existed and has taken care of the interest of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Port Health Services, NDLEA and others. This would go a long way to reduce the cumbersomeness and multiplicity of forms for travelers and enhance the ease of doing business in the long run”, James added.
