NIS offers undocumented foreign nationals new lifeline

By Ibironke Ariyo

Foreign nationals living illegally in the country can still regularise their stay thorough a new initiative tagged ‘Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme (PAVRDP), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said

PAVRDP was designed for foreign nationals who failed to regularise their stay or exit the country during the Expired Visa Initiative, which ended on Sept. 30, 2025, the Service said in a statement on Friday.

In the statement signed by its Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI), Akinsola Akinlabi, the Service also informed that the PAVRDP which commences on Oct. 13, was designed to provide an opportunity for affected foreign nationals

This, the service said, would be to report themselves voluntarily at the nearest Immigration Command for registration and documentation.

Upon documentation, the NIS each individual’s circumstances would be assessed on a case-by-case basis before an appropriate action was determined in line with the provisions of the Immigration Act, 2015, and related regulations.

The NIS warned that any foreigner who had breached the conditions of his or her visa and failed to report to the NIS would be arrested.

“They will be detained, and removed from Nigeria as provided by extant immigration laws, with long-term entry bans applied,” NIS said.

The NIS further cautioned that aiding and harbouring illegal immigrants remained a punishable offence under Nigerian law.

The service added that the breach of conditions of regularization of stay also constituted an offence, advising individuals, companies, and organisations to desist from such acts to avoid prosecution.

“The NIS remains committed to promoting humane, seamless, and orderly migration, ensuring compliance with extant immigration laws, and strengthening national security through effective migration management,” the NIS said.

(NAN)