Immigration boss launches data centre in Abuja

IN a bold move to compete with its counterparts in other parts of the globe, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched an ultra-modern Data Centre, and Customer Queuing Systems at the NIS headquarters Passports Office, Sauka, Abuja.

  The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and the NIS boss, Mr. David Shikfu Parradang, commissioned the new projects.

  The project is the newest among the many projects executed under the Parradang administration.

 The NIS boss commended the Minister of Interior for supporting lofty initiatives of the NIS management and the service providers who handled the project for their commitment.

  Welcoming the guests, he said: “ I feel highly honoured to welcome you all to this very unique occasion of the official commissioning of the Data Centre built by Messrs Newworks Solutions and Investment Limited as well as the Customer Queuing Systems installed in the Passport Hall by Messrs OIS Services Limited. Other projects commissioned today are the two automatic Rising Bollards constructed by the Nigeria Immigration Service to enhance security around the main headquarters complex.”

  “You would recall that the Federal Executive Council gave an express approval/directive that with effect from 26th March 2007, all payments by and in favour of the Federal Government, must be made online. The rationale behind the e-Payment Policy is to block all possible avenues of revenue leakages and to uphold the sanctity of Government transactions as a veritable tool for enforcing accountability and probity.”

  “In line with this scheme, the Nigeria Immigration Service took the initiative to embrace the Federal Government’s e-Payment policy by engaging the services of Messrs Newworks Solution and Investment Limited (under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Interior) to manage the NIS e-Payment platform.”

   “The transition from cash collection has evidently improved our Internally Generated (IGR) profile astronomically. For instance, in 2014, the sum of N9,249,483,600.00 was generated locally as revenue accruing from e-Passports while the Immigration Desks at the Nigerian Missions abroad where we are currently issuing e-Passports generated the sum of $15,346,980.00.”

  He added: “I wish to seize this opportunity to appreciate the Honourable Minister of Interior and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria for the tremendous support towards all our programmes and initiatives aimed at discharging our statutory obligations in furtherance of our overarching objective of seamlessly rendering services to Nigerians and foreigners alike.”

 “On behalf of the NIS management, I sincerely thank Messrs OIS for graciously installing the Customer Queuing Systems, including chairs in the main Passport Hall to ensure a more effective crowd control mechanism. In a nutshell, most of our initiatives are customer-driven and in our quest to uphold the precepts of Servicom as well as the Transformation Agenda, we shall continue to strive to provide timely world class services and the needed enabling environment for our customers whose interest we are ardently committed to protect always.”

  The Minister of Interior, Comrade Moro lauded the initiatives of the NIS boss Parradang, who he described as “a change agent.”

  Moro said: “I wish to commend the Management of Newworks for their bold step in constructing this Data Centre in line with the letter and spirit of the subsisting contractual agreement between the company and the Federal Ministry of Interior. This initiative will further guarantee prompt resolution of challenges with the online platform for payment for immigration facilities, which is currently being managed by Newworks.

  “It is imperative to equally appreciate OIS for installing the Customer Queuing Systems as a mark of the good corporate social responsibility that the company is known for. This arrangement, which is meant to provide a convenient environment for the teeming passport applicants, will in no small measure assist the Nigeria Immigration Service to sustain the tempo of seamless and timely service delivery in accordance with the tenets of Servicom,” he said.

    Moro noted that the construction of the Automatic Rising Bollards by the NIS to enhance effective control of entry and exit of vehicles around the main headquarters building is a timely security measure.