By Tunde Johnson, Abuja
Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller-General of Immigration, has revoked the residence permits of the expatriate workers in six companies, which Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has a major stake.
Elendu Reports can authoritatively report that the companies include Intels Nigeria Ltd. However, the affected workers were also directed to leave the country before November 30, 2017 failing which they may be deported.
Sunday James, the Immigration Service Public Relations Officer, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the revocation was in the exercise of the powers vested on the CG in Section 39 sub-section 1 of Immigration Act 2015 and Section 5, sub-section 5 of the Immigration Regulation, 2017.
Beside Intels, other firms affected by the directive included PRODECO International Ltd., West Africa Machinery Services Ltd., Net Global System International Ltd., MGM Logistics Solutions Ltd., and ORIEAN Investment Ltd.
It would be recalled that the federal government had earlier terminated Intels contract with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over allegations that the firm did not comply with the government’s directives on the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
James in the statement said the revocation of the expatriates’ residence permits followed the withdrawal of the operational licenses of their employers by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority.
The statement reads in part: “The Comptroller/General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, hereby revokes the residence permits of the expatriate staff of the underlisted companies.
“Consequently, the CGI has directed that the expatriate staff of the affected companies leave Nigeria not later than November 30, 2017, failure of which they might be recommended to the Minister of Interior for deportation.”