The Nigeria Immigration Service has directed all unauthorised holders of diplomatic and official passports to hand them over to the Service, failure of which would earn sanctions under the Immigration Act 2015.

The directive was issued by the Comptroller General of Immigration, Martins Kure, who said “unauthorized possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.”

“These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja with immediate effect,” Kure said.

Among those affected former governors, ministers, legislators, commissioners, special advisers/assistants, heads of parastatals, public servants, etc. who were issued these official documents to aid their travels while in office.

However, despite leaving office, many of these officials do not bother to surrender their passports and the NIS directive is part of efforts to checkmate illegal activities by holders of these documents.