By BARBARA KALU, Enugu –
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has inaugurated a newly reconstructed Office Complex on Enugu-Abakaliki Road Emene for the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Speaking at the event, the Minister, who represented the President Muhammadu Buhari, described the complex as one of the massive edifices of the NIS .
He noted that the commissioning of the complex was part of government’s commitment to providing conducive workplace environment for the workforce in order to ensure enhanced productivity.
The Minister noted that the best of machines and computer systems in a very poor work environment will not add any meaningful value to workers’ productivity, while stressing that ‘the minimum facility that can be provided for a man who bears arms is not only safety but a workplace environment where his best performance can be easily harnessed,’.
He charged Officers and Men of the Command to emplace high maintenance culture, serene work environment and transparent service delivery to ensure that people who come to the Complex for any service get treated decently. He thanked the government and good people of Enugu State especially some illustrious individuals in the State who assisted in the reconstruction of the Building.
Speaking earlier, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Muhammad Babandede, stated that upon assumption of Office as Comptroller General, he promised to build and commission at least two new Command Office Buildings yearly.
Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Assistant Comptroller Amos Okpu, in a statement made available to NATIOONAL ACCORD on Friday, said the commissioning of the Enugu Command Complex brings to 11, the total number of Command Complexes already built and delivered in fulfillment of the promise.
He quoted the CGI as advising Officers and Men of the Command to make good use of the Building, adding that the Service is retooling all its processes and procedures for enhanced service delivery.
The CGI also thanked the Governor and the people of the State for their support during the reconstruction works on the edifice.
In his remarks, the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, represented by the deputy Governor, Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, appreciated the Minister of Interior for coming to commission the Complex describing the gesture as a demonstration of strong commitment and leadership of the Buhari-led administration.
She expressed her government’s appreciation to the reform efforts of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, stressing that the Service had continued to discharge its duties in the State beautifully.
It would be recalled that the Enugu State Command complex was earlier slated for commissioning on the 24th October but the building got torched by arsonists in 2020 during the #ENDSARS protest.
Dignitaries at the occasion include representative of the State traditional Council led by His Royal Majesty Igwe (Barrister) Julius Nnaji, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev.Valentine Callistus Onaga, the State Director of State Services, Corps Commander FRSC, Enugu Sector Command Joseph Udoaba, State Commissioner of Police represented by DCP Garba Ahmed, the Army Garrison Commander in the State Brig. Gen. Chris Ataki, the Sariki Hausa in Enugu, Abubakar Yusuf Sambo and representatives of other military and security agencies.