Although the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) might have been operating within the realm of norms, the incident itself casts more fundamental questions on the links between the Nigerian citizens, especially those in positions of authority, and the institutions they are supposed to be served by.
A wider frustration of the general population is demonstrated by the outburst of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over the exercise of power in the country. This has been the case with many Nigerians in the airports, police checkpoints, or even government offices, where the procedures are not necessarily made clear and accountability is left to personal interpretation.
Even the most ordinary procedure can be deemed as harassment to the citizens who are already tired of the bureaucracy and can be seen as overreaching, particularly when power relations are involved. The fact that the senator decided to go live on social media demonstrates how little trust the citizens have towards the public institutions, which could be easily corrected by being transparent, professional, and communicating on a regular basis.
This episode can be used to teach both parties a lesson. Disciplined action and due process are paramount even when frustration hits high in the life of an individual in power,, as in the case of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan; the reinstatement of the trust that government agencies like the NIS have lost in their handling of Nigerians requires a pressing response of clarity, courtesy, and consistency.
A transparent system does not merely adhere to a procedure but rather communicates the same. All these may require security and immigration agencies to implement more improved public engagement protocols so that all citizens, irrespective of their statuses, are aware of what is happening and why.
Ultimately, it should not be about being right but about making sure that the Nigerians can always believe that their rights and dignity are always upheld both at home and in the foreign country.
