The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has taken swift action against one of its officers caught on camera soliciting bribes from a traveler at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II Okpravero C. Ufuoma has been indefinitely suspended pending disciplinary procedures.
The incident, captured on camera-enabled eyeglasses, sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompting the NIS to condemn the officer’s conduct as “disgraceful” and “contrary to the ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing the integrity and professionalism of the Service.”
In a statement, Comptroller General Kemi Nana Nandap emphasized that the NIS values hospitality, reception, and courtesy, and that Ufuoma’s actions do not reflect these principles.
“We wish to inform the public that the conduct of the officer, identified as Okpravero C. Ufuoma, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI 2) at Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, does not reflect the values and ethics of professionalism upheld by the NIS.
“The NIS condemns this misconduct in the strongest terms, as it undermines the ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing our service standards. This disgraceful act is not representative of our commitment to hospitality, reception and courtesy,” the statement read in part.
It added, “As a result, the officer has been indefinitely suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary procedures, which are in accordance with the law and Public Service Rules.”
The suspension is a clear indication of the Service’s commitment to rooting out corruption and upholding the highest standards of professionalism.
To prevent similar incidents, the NIS is installing electronic gates (e-gates) at all five international airports in the country, facilitating smoother travel for passengers and reducing opportunities for corruption.
This move demonstrates the NIS’s dedication to reform and its determination to restore public trust in the institution. As the investigation into Ufuoma’s conduct continues, the Service’s actions send a strong message: corruption will not be tolerated within the NIS.
