NIS Deports Zimbabwean Cleric Over Immigration Law Violation
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has ordered the immediate deportation of a Zimbabwean cleric, Mr. Eben Nhiwatawi, after he was found guilty of violating Nigeria’s immigration laws.
According to a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Udo, on Wednesday in Abuja, Nhiwatawi was apprehended by NIS operatives in Yola, Adamawa, on August 24, 2024, for breaching immigration protocols.
Udo explained that Nhiwatawi had entered Nigeria on August 21 with a Tourist Visa (F5A), which is exclusively for tourism purposes.
However, he reportedly engaged in the Methodist Church leadership election process, an act that contravened the visa’s terms as outlined in Nigeria’s Visa Policy 2024.
In response to this violation, the NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, with approval from the Ministry of Interior, ordered the cleric’s immediate repatriation.
“The NIS encourages lawful foreign investment and supports individuals involved in business and social activities that foster economic growth. However, any breach of the country’s immigration laws will not be tolerated,” Udo stated.
He further emphasized the NIS’s commitment to safeguarding national security and monitoring foreign nationals’ activities to ensure compliance with the law.
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