The Nigerian Immigration Lawyers Association (NILA) has formally submitted a letter to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, requesting official clarification on whether the newly introduced Nigerian Certified Immigration Agent (NCIA) accreditation scheme applies to licensed legal practitioners in Nigeria.
In the communication, NILA commended the NIS for its efforts in introducing the NCIA framework as part of wider reforms to promote integrity, accountability, and professionalism in immigration service delivery. The Association, however, expressed concern over uncertainty within the legal and business communities as to whether lawyers are required to obtain NCIA accreditation before continuing to advise or represent clients in immigration-related matters.
NILA emphasized that in comparable jurisdictions—including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States—lawyers are expressly exempt from separate immigration agent accreditation requirements because they are already subject to rigorous professional and ethical regulation by their respective bar associations or law societies.
The Association, therefore, urged the Comptroller-General to issue an official advisory clarifying that duly licensed Nigerian lawyers are exempt from the NCIA accreditation requirement. According to NILA, such clarification would ensure that the NCIA achieves its intended purpose of regulating non-lawyer immigration facilitators, without inadvertently undermining the rights and functions of legal practitioners under the Legal Practitioners Act.
The letter, signed by Prince Ebere Nwokoro, FCArb, FNILA, Trustee and 1st Vice President of NILA, was also copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Interior, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
NILA reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the NIS and other relevant stakeholders in strengthening Nigeria’s immigration system and ensuring fair, ethical, and effective regulation of immigration practice.
For Further Enquiries, Please Contact:
Mrs. Pamilerin Akabunwa
Assistant Publicity Secretary
Nigerian Immigration Lawyers Association (NILA)
Tel: +234 907 537 6943 ; +234 707 554 5856
Email: [email protected]
