BIPC, Immigration strengthen partnership to monitor expatriates in Benue

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, and the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, have agreed to deepen collaboration to strengthen the monitoring, documentation and security of expatriates working in Benue state.

The resolution followed a meeting between the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, and the Benue State Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Grace Nkangwung, held at the company’s boardroom in Makurdi.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Asemakaha disclosed that BIPC accounts for about 75 percent of expatriates currently working in the state through its industrial and investment projects.

He said the company would henceforth furnish the Nigerian Immigration Service with details of all expatriates engaged in its operations, including their Temporary Work Permits, TWP, to ensure proper documentation and effective monitoring.

According to him, the collaboration is aimed at promoting investment while ensuring that only duly documented expatriates operate in the state.

“We are here to build the state, and we will not have criminals in the state,” Asemakaha said.

The BIPC Group Managing Director also expressed concern over what he described as the unpleasant experiences encountered by some expatriates in their dealings with immigration personnel but commended the Benue State Comptroller for her prompt intervention in resolving the issues.

Responding, the Benue State Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Grace Nkangwung, said the Service had introduced measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

She urged BIPC to consistently notify the agency whenever new expatriates arrive in the state to enable effective monitoring in line with the statutory mandate of the Service.

Nkangwung also lauded the leadership of Dr. Asemakaha and Governor Hyacinth Alia, for the transformation being recorded by the company.

Earlier, the Head of Business Development and Strategy at BIPC, Mrs. Theresa Abeda, said the meeting was convened to strengthen collaboration between the two organisations and address issues of mutual interest, particularly in the areas of investment promotion, security and compliance with immigration regulations.

She expressed confidence that the renewed partnership would enhance coordination between both institutions and support the state’s drive to attract more investments while maintaining effective immigration oversight.

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