By Queen Kunde
The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have sealed a new partnership to improve the safety, monitoring and documentation of expatriates working in Benue State as investment activities continue to grow.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, and the Benue State Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Grace Nkangwung, at the BIPC Board Room in Makurdi.
Dr. Asemakaha revealed that BIPC currently accounts for about 75 per cent of expatriates working in Benue through its industrial and investment projects. He announced that the company would now provide the Immigration Service with details of every expatriate it engages, including their Temporary Work Permits (TWP), to ensure proper documentation and effective monitoring.
“We are here to build the state, and we will not have criminals in the state,” he said, stressing the company’s commitment to protecting investors while maintaining security.
The BIPC chief also raised concerns over the unpleasant experiences some expatriates had encountered in their dealings with immigration officers. However, he commended the State Comptroller for her swift intervention in resolving the issues.
In her response, Comptroller Grace Nkangwung assured that the Immigration Service had introduced measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. She urged BIPC to promptly notify the Service whenever new expatriates arrive in the state to enable effective monitoring in line with immigration laws.
She also praised Dr. Asemakaha and Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia for what she described as the transformation of Benue into a major construction hub driven by ongoing development projects.
Earlier, BIPC’s Head of Business Development and Strategy, Theresa Abeda, said the meeting was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two organisations. She noted that the collaboration would promote investment, enhance security and ensure compliance with immigration regulations as Benue continues to attract more local and foreign investors.