Based on the instruction given by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Immigration Service has ordered all former Nigerian public office to with immediate effect, surrender official and diplomatic passports issued to them while they were in office.
The categories of officials affected by the directive are former governors, former ministers, former senators, former members of the House of Representatives, and former members of state Houses of Assembly.
Others are former commissioners, former special advisers/special assistants, former chairmen/deputy chairmen of local government areas, all retired heads of parastatals and retired public servants.
The Comptroller-General of the Immigration Service, Martin Abeshi, communicated the directive in a statement released on Monday.
“These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja with immediate effect.”
“Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an offence under the Immigration Act 2015. Such unauthorized possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.”