By Tordue Salem

ABUJA—The House of Representatives yesterday took a Bill seeking to abrogate the Immigration Act of 1963, and enact a fresh one that will address contemporary immigration issues in the country.

The Executive Bill, which was anchored for second reading by the Leader of the House, Rep. Tunde Akogun (PDP/Aiyegunle/Akoko-Edo), had an almost unanimous support by the lawmakers.

The Bill seeks to “Repeal the Immigration Act of 1963 and Enact Immigration Act 2010” and other matters.
The leader of the House in justifying the need for moving the Motion, declared that the present law that was enacted by a British parliament in Nigeria 47 years ago, could not  serve the purposes of 2010 and beyond.

Chairman of the House Committee on Interior, Rep. Jerimon Manwe(PDP/Lau/Lamido/Ardo-Kola/Taraba), in his contribution, said unless the repeal was effected, some of the activities being carried out by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, will be illegal, “because they are not captured by the 1963 Act.

“The immigration Act of 1963 is long overdue for overhaul, and I think this Bill (proposed repeal) captures most of the issues. The service, as you well know, carries arms and that is not captured by any legal framework, and that is dangerous”, he said.