Chinese Businessman Allegedly Orders Shooting of Nigerian Immigration Officer in Abuja – Tinubu’s Minister Vows Justice
:By Springnewsng Media Limited
March 29, 2025
The Nigerian government has strongly condemned an attack on a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer, http://Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer,describing it as an assault on the country’s sovereignty.
A Chinese businessmanhttp://Chinese businessman allegedly ordered his security guard to shoot an NIS officer while on official duty at a Chinese-owned company in Abuja.http://Chinese-owned company in Abuja. The shocking incident has sparked outrage, with the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, vowing to take up the matter with the Chinese Embassy.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 in Abuja on Thursday, Tunji-Ojo expressed deep anger over the attack.
“An incident happened, and I am taking that very personally. I don’t want to mention the company here, but a foreign company told its security officer to shoot one of our immigration personnel— and he did it.”
He described the act as unacceptable, stressing that such an attack on a Nigerian officer would not be tolerated.
“This is an attack on Nigeria. It will never happen again. No foreign company or individual will be allowed to undermine our security personnel.”
The Minister assured Nigerians that steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence. He announced that Nigeria was automating its White, Grey, and Black lists to monitor foreign nationals and improve immigration control.
As part of the reforms, a new expatriate administration system will be introduced on May 1, 2025, to track expatriates working in the country.
“We will be giving a three-month window—from May 1st to August 1st—for the regularisation of immigration protocols. After that, we will move to enforcement, prosecution, and deportation.”
Regarding concerns raised by a Chinese delegation about alleged blacklisting, Tunji-Ojo clarified that Nigeria was not targeting China but was enforcing immigration laws fairly.
“We will never paint an entire street with a single brush. There are Nigerians, Chinese, Indians, Americans, and Europeans contributing to our economy positively.”
The Comptroller General of NIS, Kemi Nana Nandap, also announced key reforms in Nigeria’s visa policy. She revealed that the number of visa classifications had been reduced from 79 to 44, and a fully online e-visa system was being introduced to simplify the process.
“These categories have been logically grouped to improve procedures, reduce complexities, and enhance user experience.”
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians calling for swift action against those responsible. The government’s response signals a tougher stance on foreign businesses that violate Nigeria’s laws.
