Expatriate Resident Permits Computerisation Gulps N4bn
265,000 expatriates evade scheme
From Cletus Akwaya and Juliana Taiwo in Abuja
Computerisation of expatriate permits and other alien documents being undertaken by the Federal Government under the Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC) project has so far gulped N4 billion, technical partners to the project, Continental Transferred Technique (CONTEC) Global, have said.
However, foreigners resident in the country, for which the computer project was initiated may have perfected ways to evade the scheme as only 35,000 out of the estimated 300,000 expatriates in the country have been registered.
The N4 billion was spent for equipment installed since September 30, 2002 when the project took off. It includes mainframe computers and other data base equipment supplied by IBM as well as other software developed exclusively by a British company, Arcelnet, for the Nigerian project.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CONTEC, Mr. Benoy Berry who conducted newsmen around the company's facilities in Abuja explained that the investment was entirely borne by the company as the Federal Government is not providing any funding for the project.
Berry disclosed that the project, which is being executed on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis was approved by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs for an initial period of three years subject to renewal.
Under the agreement, Berry disclosed that the Green and Brown Cards for Citizens of Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) is expected to be free while other African countries would pay $100, Commonwealth countries $250 and other nationals $350.
These proceeds, the CEO explained, are shared between the Federal Government and his company on an agreed formula of 70 and 30 per cent respectively.
He clarified that the company had no connection whatsoever in the issuance of either the Green or Brown Cards as that is still the prerogative of the Nigeria Immigration Service. Berry added that the role of the company was to provide technical expertise for improved versions of the working permit papers hitherto issued by the Federal Government.
Experts of the company who demonstrated the computerized documents to newsmen said the new Green Card had security details including fingerprints records, which were usually verified at the point of entry and exit of the expatriate by the designated immigration of government officials.
Also, he said the Green and Brown Cards had computer chips which record all personal information about the resident including his passport number, passport photograph, signature, travel details like number and dates of entry and exit, airlines patronized and flights numbers among other details.
These details, he disclosed, would enable the security agencies determine when expatriates come in and out of the country.
And to make for effective checks, the company has developed a screening equipment known as 'Super Gate' which is mounted at the departure and entry points of the country's Airports while a mobile unit has also been developed for land and sea borders.
The CEO disclosed that several other computer software had been developed to enhance security in the country. He added that some of the patented software and services were being supplied to the Government of Togo.
Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internal Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Al-Makura and Sub- Committee Chairman on Immigrations, Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Kagara who were present at the facility tour told newsmen that the House Committee on Internal Affairs was pleased at the work being carried out by CONTEC under the CERPAC [project.
"We are very pleased and happy with the technology that they are bringing to us. We as a Committee on Internal Affairs in the House of Representatives are highly impressed because we asked a lot of questions and we know that a lot of Nigerians are being trained," Al-Makura stated.
Kagara in his remark regretted that foreigners residing in the company were unwilling to get registered under the scheme and hinted that the House would soon commence investigations into the abuse of expatriate quota system by some companies and other international organizations.
He said although the renewal of the project time was the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Committee would offer all necessary assistance to have the project time extended in view of its importance to the nation's security.
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