President Bola Tinubu has been asked to investigate alleged irregularities, compromises and unchecked misconduct within the operations of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) following the release five Chinese nationals without valid papers.
SaharaReporters had last Thursday exclusively reported how the Chinese nationals were released after an alleged lobbying by a retired senior immigration officer.
“It was a retired DIG that used his influence to quietly secure the release of the five Chinese nationals arrested during the enforcement exercise,” a source had told SaharaReporters.
“The development has sparked outrage among observers who warn that insider protection is emboldening expatriate companies to flout Nigerian laws with impunity.”
The five men were initially arrested on August 12, 2025, during a joint sting operation by immigration authorities and the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently held in a detention facility at the NIS headquarters, Sauka, along Airport Road, Abuja.
They were held at the NIS headquarters in Sauka along Airport Road, Abuja, and released on August 21 following an alleged Intervention by a retired senior immigration officer.
The five Chinese nationals initially facing deportation under Section 44 of the Immigration Act include: Zhang Damou (46) – Sales Manager, charged with quota trafficking (Section 38); Qian Jin (48) – Sales Manager on TWP, charged with visa misuse (Section 56); Tang Pan (41) – Interpreter on TWP, charged with visa misuse (Section 56); Lin Jianfeng (52) – Business Manager on TWP, charged with visa misuse (Section 56) and Guo Zhengheng (40) – Sales Manager on Business Visa, charged with visa misuse (Section 56).
Reacting, a civil society group, the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians (CCN) accused Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) authorities of poor handling of the gross infractions discovered in the company the Chinese nationals were arrested.
It claimed the company has been operating for nearly 4 years with just only CAC certificate of registration as an expatriate company.
The group further called President Tinubu to take urgent and decisive action to address the alleged corruption and failure of Immigration authorities to enforce Nigerian laws effectively.
CCN accused senior officials within the NIS of colluding and allowing foreign nationals to live and work in Nigeria without valid documentation, in violation of Nigerian immigration laws.
“The recent released of five Chinese nationals at Royal Castle Ceramics in Ogun State as reported by SaharaReporters as a case that exemplifies deeper institutional failure within the service.
“Authorities say the arrests were based on violations of Sections 36,37, 38, 56, and 105 of the Immigration Act of 2015, which relate to illegal residency, unauthorized employment, and breaches of visa conditions.
“Despite these violations, the individuals were released from custody under questionable circumstances influenced by political interference.
“The sudden release of these foreign nationals, despite the clear evidence of their unlawful status, suggests a troubling pattern of high-level collusion and complicity within the Nigeria Immigration Service,” Abiodun Akinremi, spokesperson and leader of the Coalition said in a statement to SaharaReporters.
Akinremi expressed dismay that while President Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated strong commitment to fighting corruption across public institutions, rogue elements within the NIS appear to be sabotaging these efforts by enabling illegal employment practices and undermining national security.
“It is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable for foreign nationals to live and work openly in Nigeria without proper documentation,” he said.
“This is not only a gross violation of our laws but also a direct threat to the integrity of our labor market and a potential risk to national security.
“Incidents such as the Royal Castle Ceramics case reveal systemic weaknesses that must be addressed through institutional reform and firm political will.
“These actions, if left unchecked, set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in our immigration system.
“We urge President Tinubu and relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for these irregularities are brought to justice. Upholding our immigration laws is essential not only for law and order but for the protection of Nigerian workers and the safeguarding of national sovereignty.”
The Chinese workers had earlier insisted that they possessed Permanent Residence Permits, while one of them had reportedly only just arrived in Nigeria a week before his arrest.
The workers also pointed to the fact that the NIS had announced an amnesty window on July 28, 2025, allowing overstayers and undocumented workers to regularise their immigration status.
However, they claimed that despite this policy, the detained Chinese workers continue to face threats of deportation and the forced closure of their factory, even before any investigation or legal proceedings have been concluded.
When contacted, the Immigration spokesman Akinsola Akinlabi had said: “All those allegations, I can tell you, are false. If you see us arresting any foreigners, you should know they have done something wrong.
“It is in our mission to ensure more foreign investment in the country.”
Also, a senior NIS official, who said he was familiar with the matter, insisted that security operatives lawfully arrested the five Chinese nationals for working in Nigeria without valid immigration documents.
“The truth about the issue is that these people are criminals, and that was why Immigration officials arrested them. There is nothing like targeting or that someone is behind it,” the top Immigration source had said.
“These people are in Nigeria without any valid documents. They are carrying out businesses without any permits.”
The source continued: “On the amnesty, many people do not understand how it works. The amnesty is for foreigners already in Nigeria but could not revalidate their papers because of one issue or another.
“It is not for illegal immigrants like these suspects. And NIS asked those who want amnesty to apply through our website, but do you know that none of them applied?
“What this signifies is that they don't care, and they thought they could work in Nigeria without any valid documentation. When there is no documentation, they can carry out illegal acts and crimes without any traces.”
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