The Federal Government will begin the clampdown on irregular migrants in the country from August 1.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a meeting with the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the federal government was giving a three months grace period to the irregular migrants starting from May 1.
The minister said: “So by August 1, there will be strict clampdown on irregular immigrants in the country.
“We hope that people will take advantage of the three-month grace period to regularise and subject themselves to established immigration protocols.”
He also disclosed that the new Expatriate Administration System (EAS) would commence on May 1, after which enforcement would begin from August 1.
Tunji-Ojo said the federal government would no longer tolerate a situation where some companies obstruct the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from carrying out its legitimate duties.
“We have agreed that the era when some very few companies behave irresponsibly by distorting, blocking, and avoiding being subjected to immigration laws will no longer be tolerated.
“We all agree with the private sector that under the law, the immigration service has a right to do their job and must perform their mandate.
“We will be very hard on any company that avoids or prevents the NIS from carrying out its legal responsibility, as we will not tolerate that going forward,” added.