NIS Cracks Down on Unqualified Foreign Engineers in Abia State

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Abia State Command, has launched a renewed effort to identify and remove unqualified foreign workers falsely claiming to be professional engineers within the state.

During an official visit by the Abia State Technical Committee (ASTC) of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Abia State Comptroller of Immigration, S.U. Agba revealed that the command had uncovered several cases of foreign nationals masquerading as certified engineers, many of whom turned out to be untrained artisans and mechanics.

“We don’t close our eyes to quackery. Many expatriates claim to be engineers, doctors, or lawyers without any verifiable proof,” Agba stated.

He explained that during the 90-day regularization window, the NIS rigorously vets foreign workers' documents. If they fail to meet required professional standards, they are deported immediately.

The NIS is working in close collaboration with COREN to prevent unqualified foreigners from engaging in professional engineering activities in Nigeria. Intelligence teams and local government liaisons are actively involved in internal investigations, while findings are communicated to NIS headquarters in Abuja for prompt deportation. A blacklist is maintained to prevent reentry by individuals found guilty of professional misrepresentation.

“We promise full cooperation with COREN in fishing out and eliminating these imposters,” Agba assured the visiting delegation.

Speaking on behalf of COREN, Ejikeme Ihediwa, leader of the Abia State Technical Committee, warned of the serious risks posed by unqualified individuals occupying key engineering roles in infrastructure development.

“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 emphasized that only COREN-registered professionals, whether Nigerian or foreign, are permitted to practice engineering in the country. The visit to the immigration command, he said, was part of a broader public awareness campaign on COREN's role in regulating the engineering profession in Nigeria.

Ihediwa also called for continued collaboration and support from immigration authorities to ensure that violators are identified and prosecuted.