By Fidelis Njoku
Sometimes in life one gets commendations from some unusual quarters who are often in the habit of criticising others for poor performances.
Oftentimes most government institutions are usually the worse culprits who suffer such criticisms from Nigerians in this regard
The Nigerian immigration service, Anambra State command became the toast of some Nigerians who came to either renew or get a fresh passport during the yuletide season. The remarkable improvement noticed in service delivery may not be unconnected with the pragmatic leadership of the current Minister of interior Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the current Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service Ms Wura-Ola Adepoju who have both shown a sense of duty and patriotism in ensuring services rendered by the Nigerian Immigration meets the expectations of Nigerians
Mr Edirin Endurance Okoto, who until few days was the Anambra State Command, Immigration Comptroller, but recently got promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General was specially commended by Ndi Anambra for a fantastic job in his less than a year stay in the command. His humility and simplicity in his approach to people and issues were rated high by Ndi Anambra. He literally revolutionized the system in strict compliance with his bosses in Abuja to give a human face to the institution’s service delivery in Anambra State.
Mr Okoto was an exceptional officer and a rare gentleman who discharged his duties with diligence and patriotism. Having been promoted to a higher rank he was subsequently redeployed to Abuja for higher duties and responsibilities. No doubt, the command surely will miss an outstanding officer in Mr Edirin Okoto
Without allowing for gap, Mr Akpuogwu who stepped in to act following the redeployment of Mr Okoto has equally kept the legacies of expeditious service delivery on the same scale to Nidi Anambra
A recent visit by this reporter to the command, the reporter caught on camera some Nigerians literally pouring encomiums on Mr Akpuogwu who was seen everywhere personally ensuring everyone was promptly attended to.
Most of these Nigerians who came from the diaspora expressed surprise with the courtesies and respectful ways Akpuogwu was attending to everyone and ensuring everything went orderly just the way and manner Mr Okoto did when he held sway.
One of the diasporans, Mr Martins Okeke expressed surprise at the courtesies and friendly manner he was treated and in no time was promptly attended to. He told this reporter that he surely has good stories to tell others about this experience he encountered at the Nigerian Immigration using the Anambra Command as a good case study!
No doubt, the “Renewed Hope” mantra of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not just a sing-song but a reality that is already yielding dividends silently across the nation