The Nigerian Immigration Lawyers Association (NILA) has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to clarify whether the recently introduced Nigerian Certified Immigration Agent (NCIA) accreditation scheme applies to licensed legal practitioners.
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In a letter addressed to the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, NILA commended the NIS for launching the NCIA framework as part of ongoing reforms to improve professionalism and integrity in immigration services. However, the association highlighted lingering uncertainty among lawyers and businesses about whether legal practitioners must obtain NCIA certification to advise or represent clients on immigration matters.
NILA pointed out that similar jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States, exempt licensed lawyers from separate immigration agent accreditation. Lawyers in these countries are already regulated under strict professional and ethical codes enforced by bar associations or law societies.
The association therefore requested a formal advisory from the Comptroller-General confirming that licensed Nigerian lawyers are not required to undergo NCIA certification. NILA noted that such clarification would allow the NCIA to focus on regulating non-lawyer immigration agents while safeguarding lawyers’ statutory duties under the Legal Practitioners Act.
The letter, signed by Prince Ebere Nwokoro, FCArb, FNILA, Trustee and First Vice President of NILA, was copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Interior, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Copies were also sent to the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
NILA concluded by reaffirming its willingness to collaborate with the NIS and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s immigration regulatory framework, emphasizing that constructive dialogue is essential to promote fairness, ethical compliance, and professionalism in immigration law practice.
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