The Nigeria Immigration Service in Abia State says it has started strict checks to stop fake foreign workers pretending to be professional engineers in the state.
This was made known by the State Comptroller of Immigration, S.U. Agba, during a visit by the Abia State Technical Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria over the weekend.
Agba said many of the so-called foreign professionals were discovered to be ordinary mechanics and artisans without any proper qualifications.
“We don’t close our eyes to quackery. Many expatriates claim to be engineers, doctors, or lawyers without any verifiable proof,” he said.
He explained that during the 90-day regularization period for foreign workers, NIS checks their documents. “When they fail to meet the standard, we deport them,” he added.
Agba promised that the Immigration Service will work closely with COREN to expose and remove fake engineers. He said NIS already uses its intelligence unit and also works with local officials to monitor foreign workers in the state.
“We report our findings to our headquarters in Abuja for immediate repatriation,” Agba stated. He also said the NIS keeps a blacklist to stop deported persons from re-entering the country.
Also speaking, the leader of the COREN team, Ejikeme Ihediwa, said nobody — whether Nigerian or foreign — is allowed to practice engineering in the country without proper registration and certification by COREN.
“Many of them do not possess the qualifications they claim. Some are mere mechanics, yet they take up critical roles in our infrastructure,” Ihediwa said.
He explained that the visit to the Immigration office was to create more awareness about COREN’s role in making sure only certified professionals are allowed to practice engineering in Nigeria.
He called for strong support to help COREN take legal action against anyone found guilty of pretending to be an engineer, especially foreigners.
“This is about public safety,” Ihediwa stressed. “We must not allow unqualified people to take up technical jobs that affect lives and infrastructure.”
