Chairman of Kano Concerned Youths Forum Alhaji Shittu Sani Marshal has called on the federal government to review the issuance of visa to members of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) in order to check the movement of persons from the member states into Nigeria.
Speaking to news men in Kano Monday, Marshal stated that the measure has become necessary in order to check the security challenges bedeviling the country.
“Any person coming into the country (Nigeria) from other member states has to give strong reasons as to why he or she is coming into Nigeria as obtained in other member states.
“Such persons coming into Nigeria have to also undergo serious screening to ensure that they are not security threat to the country and its citizens.
“So Nigeria as a country has to take stringent measures to prevent illegal aliens from coming into the country without any cogent reason,” he said.
According to him, it was only in Nigeria that you see illegal migrants such as cobblers, security guards and truck pushers among others living without resident permit.
He stressed the need for the government to conduct census of such migrants doing menial jobs or businesses in the country with a view to repatriating those living illegally.
“It is high time for the government to ensure that all illegal aliens are repatriated to their countries of origin for security of the country.
He alleged that a number of such illegal aliens were being accused of partaking in one crime or the other especially in the North-west where there is high rate of banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling.
“It is alleged that there are over two million illegal aliens while over 100 illegal borders are operating in the country.
“So we need to take proactive measures to address the security challenges facing the country, “he said.
