By Augustine Aminu
Anti curruption group Kicks Against Alleged Issuance of Brown Card to Foreigners
An Anti-corruption crusader group, Save The Soul Transparency and Eagle Eye International Foundation (STEIF) has accused Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior of a move to introduce a ‘Brown Card’ which will grant foreigners permanent residency status in the country.
The group rejects the move in it’s totality over fear of worsening the fragile security situation in the country.
At a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chief Research Analyst of the group, George Davidson, said the ‘Card’ is nothing but an avenue to exploit and extort money from foreigners as information available to them shows a whooping sum of $5,000 is being charged for the alleged card.
According to him, rather than introduce such, the Nigeria Immigration Service should be strengthened to check any loopholes observed in the system and deploying the nation’s hard scarce into creating a new system which comes with threat to national security.
“We don’t have another country to be called our own today except this very Nigeria. What is the aim and objective of the Brown Card? What is the mechanism in place for checks and balances? Who are the players behind the scenes? Is there revenue generated for the government of Nigeria or for private pockets? Are there contract awarded to any companies on Brown Card Project? Has the constitution changed on citizenship in Nigeria?”, Davidson asked.
The chief researcher further stated that with the overwhelming security challenges over the years, they are of the view that the allegation should be discreetly investigated by the appropriate enforcement agencies to prevent the eminent danger attached to foreigners with ulterior motive invading Nigeria.
“We call on all well meaning patriotic Nigerians to wake up to the challenges and realities of our generation. Terrorism, Banditry are borne out of corruption and security of lives and property is the business of all Nigerians”.
