By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s migration management framework through targeted reforms aimed at enhancing national security, improving service delivery, and facilitating investment.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known while receiving the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, and his delegation on Thursday, on a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Minister emphasized that effective collaboration among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) is critical to achieving government policy objectives, particularly in areas requiring coordinated implementation.
He noted that the Commission plays a strategic role in promoting institutional alignment and supporting revenue optimization across government.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, the Minister stated: “The Ministry is committed to repositioning Nigeria’s migration system to be more efficient, transparent, and supportive of economic activities, while maintaining the highest standards of national security.”
He disclosed that the Ministry has introduced an electronic visa system to address challenges associated with visa processing and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness as an investment destination. The system enables end-to-end digital processing, including the issuance of secure, QR-coded visas, thereby reducing processing timelines and administrative bottlenecks.
The Minister further revealed the deployment of an integrated digital platform for administering the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) and expatriate quota system. According to him, the platform facilitates real-time data exchange with the Nigeria Immigration Service, eliminates unauthorized intermediaries, and enhances transparency and accountability in application processing. He added that the initiative is already delivering improvements in compliance and operational efficiency.
He added that issues of citizenship are strictly regulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whereas investor-friendly residency options may be pursued within the framework of existing laws.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, highlighted the Commission’s constitutional mandate to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation are properly collected and distributed in line with existing laws.
He also noted its responsibility for determining remuneration for political office holders and judicial officers, as well as periodically reviewing the revenue allocation formula for the three tiers of government.
The Chairman commended the Ministry of Interior for its contributions to improved revenue inflows and reaffirmed the Commission’s role in monitoring revenue-generating agencies, including NNPC, NUPRC, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the solid minerals sector, to ensure accurate accounting and remittance to the Federation Account.
Speaking further on the purpose of the visit, the Chairman of the Investment Monitoring Committee of the Commission and Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State, Enefe Ekene, stated that their visit aimed to seek a strategic alliance with the Ministry of Interior in the area of citizenship by investment and to safeguard the solid minerals sector. He added that the Committee’s mandate includes overseeing government investments and initiatives designed to attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria.
