BY PHILIP NWOSU
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has ordered re-arrest of five alleged illegal immigrants allegedly employed at Royal Castle Ceramics.
The development sparked a renewed public impression and prompted a swift directive for the re-arrest exercise.
It was learnt that the initial release of the five Chinese nationals arrested and slated for deportation under Section 44 of the Immigration Act but was uncalled for.
The Service had last weekend ordered the immediate re-arrest of the five alleged illegal immigrants.
According to an internal memo, the directive is aimed at calming growing public discontent, while allowing for a thorough investigation and full documentation of the individuals’ immigration status and employment activities in the country.
The five Chinese nationals, who were working at Royal Castle Ceramics in Ogun State, include; Zhang Damou (46) – Sales Manager, Qian Jin (48) – Sales Manager on a Temporary Work Permit (TWP), Tang Pan (41) – Interpreter on TWP, Lin Jianfeng (52) – Business Manager on TWP and Guo Zhengheng (40) – Sales Manager on a Business Visa.
The arrest of the Chinese nationals was based on infractions on Section 36,38 and 56 of Immigration Act 2015 and the breach of section 105 of the same Act, 2015
Authorities maintain that the initial arrests were carried out in line with legal procedures.
However, their sudden release; allegedly secured through political interference, has triggered a wave of criticisms and raised serious concerns about the integrity of Immigration enforcement.
The incident has exposed deep-seated ethical lapses within the Immigration system, despite ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at combating systemic corruption and restoring institutional credibility across federal agencies.
Insiders within the NIS said there was a growing frustration among junior officers, who claimed they were routinely sidelined as high-level connections override legal protocols.
“We are expected to enforce the law, but our efforts are constantly undermined from above,” an officer, said anonymously.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the retired officer allegedly used his network to exert influence behind the scenes.
The leadership of the NIS, under Comptroller General Kemi Nanna Nandap, has now come under intense pressure to act decisively.
Stakeholders are questioning whether the agency can restore public trust and demonstrate the competence needed to address both internal misconduct and broader illegal immigration issues.
The Ministry of Interior has since announced an immediate review of all expatriate quotas and permits associated with the ceramics factory in Ogun state and similar manufacturing firms.
This signals a potential crackdown on what officials describe as “widespread abuse of immigration privileges” within Nigeria’s industrial sector.
The re-arrest directive and subsequent investigations are being closely watched by the public and civil society groups, many of whom are calling for stronger enforcement mechanisms and greater transparency in the operations of the NIS.
As the probe deepens, the spotlight remains firmly on both active and retired officials whose influence may have compromised due process.
