President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that the country was making progress to reverse the United States suspension of the issuance of “immigrant visas” to Nigerian passport holders.
Buhari said this while receiving the report of the committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonization.
The Committee, headed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola was set up in February this year to address issues that led to the suspension.
Buhari assured of timely implementation of the committee’s recommendations after due consideration.
‘‘I also note the progress made by Nigeria towards the removal of the visa restrictions as two out of the six areas of concern raised by the United States had been fully addressed, two are substantially satisfied while some progress is being made on the remaining two.
‘‘I am delighted that this progress, especially the uploading of Lost and Stolen Passport and Travel Documents has been acknowledged by the United States Government,’’ the President said.
Some of the Committee’s recommendation is for the establishment of a National Criminal Information Management, fashioned after the INTERPOL model.
It also recommended a National Criminal DNA Laboratory, which will help the criminal investigation, administration of criminal justice as well as sharing relevant information.
