The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Abia State has initiated stringent measures to combat the rising cases of unqualified foreign nationals masquerading as professional engineers in the state.

During an official visit by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria's (COREN) Abia State Technical Committee (ASTC) over the weekend, Abia State Comptroller of Immigration, S.U. Agba, revealed that the agency had uncovered numerous instances of expatriates falsely claiming professional qualifications.

"We don't close our eyes to quackery. Many expatriates claim to be engineers, doctors, or lawyers without any verifiable proof," Agba stated. "During the 90-day regularization window, we vet their documents, and when they fail to meet the standard, we deport them."

The Comptroller disclosed that many of these individuals were actually mechanics and artisans lacking the requisite qualifications to practice as engineers in Nigeria. He assured COREN of the Immigration Service's full cooperation in identifying and removing these impostors from the state.

According to Agba, the NIS conducts thorough internal investigations through its intelligence units and collaborates closely with local government agents to monitor foreign nationals operating in the state. Findings are communicated to the Abuja headquarters for immediate repatriation, and blacklists are maintained to prevent re-entry of fraudulent professionals.

Leading the COREN delegation, Ejikeme Ihediwa emphasized that no individual, whether local or foreign, should practice engineering in Nigeria without proper registration and certification by COREN, as it poses significant risks to public safety.

"Many of them do not possess the qualifications they claim. Some are mere mechanics, yet they take up critical roles in our infrastructure," Ihediwa explained.

The COREN representative further stated that the visit to the Nigeria Immigration Service was part of efforts to sensitize the Abia State Command about COREN's regulatory role in engineering practice in Nigeria. He appealed for necessary support to prosecute every identified case of unqualified expatriates operating in the state as engineers.

This collaborative effort between the NIS and COREN aims to uphold professional standards and ensure that only qualified engineers contribute to Nigeria's infrastructure development, particularly in Abia State.