Nigerians have taken to Twitter to criticise a video showing officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) observing morning devotion at the Lagos passport office.
Geekay, a Twitter user had posted a video where two officers and those who had passport appointments were seen participating in a prayer session.
“I am thoroughly confused, I have been at the immigration office at Alausa since 7.30 am with so much chaos and confusion,” Geekay captioned the video.
“Two officers came into the room now and commanded everyone to stand up, and they started a praise worship session, followed by a long prayer session.”
Advertisement
He went further to say that a Muslim cleric was also called to pray.
The video generated mixed reactions as Nigerians on Twitter called the act hypocritical as some of the officers would still demand bribes after worshipping God.
I am thoroughly confused.
I have been at the immigration office at Alausa since 7.30am with so much chaos and confusion.Advertisement2 officers came into the room now and commamded everyone to stand up, and they started a praise worship session, followed by a long prayer session. pic.twitter.com/gAuaaZzVoQ
— Geekay (@gkbalogs) May 10, 2023
As of the time of this report, the NIS was yet to comment on the trending video.
Advertisement
“Too much religiosity for people that would start receiving bribes by 8:01 am,” Rildwan Bello, a Twitter user said.
Also adding his voice, Kayode Ogundamisi, a political commentator, said Nigeria can’t progress with work ethics of this nature.
“Nigerian Christians and Muslims are busy taking back their country at @nigimmigration office. Gosh, and we want to progress like this? My work week starts at 9 am here, if I don’t attend to the first CRM case by 9.02 that will have a serious impact on someone who needs my service,” he tweeted.
Below are more reactions.
Advertisement
🤣 Pray & Worship now, collect bribes immediately after. 🤡 🤡 https://t.co/4Kvomk3Gja
— Monsieur Avril (@monsieur_avril) May 10, 2023
Advertisement
Nigerian Christians and Muslims are busy taking back their country at @nigimmigration office.
Gosh, and we want to progress like this?
My work week starts at 9am here, if I don't attend to the first CRM case by 9.02 that will have a serious impact on someone who needs my service. https://t.co/oT3NNpFSyuAdvertisement— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí 🇳🇬 (@ogundamisi) May 10, 2023
Advertisement
Enter bus, pray
Enter office, pray
To play football, pray
Start exam, pray
Start project, pray
Commission project, pray
Project fails, pray
To start a campaign, pray
Swearing in, pray
Attend election tribunal, prayGbogbo e, lori iro!
If ONLY we'd genuinely live a Godly life. https://t.co/VPF8k2naZM— Adebayo Salami #Dado 🇳🇬 (@WASalam_01) May 10, 2023
I was there too.
Standing behind the woman in blue.
The shock on my face was palpable when I heard the “all rise” command.— M.O (@iMuna_3) May 10, 2023
Somebody deliver Africa please https://t.co/rG4Dyl7tl4
— JB (@cowboytyran) May 10, 2023
The strain of lunacy that exists in Nigeria is unmatched. Because all these prayers no go stop dem make dem no collect gbalamu. https://t.co/4vOeUmT5Lc
— Babatunde Koiki (@BabatundeKoiki) May 10, 2023
The kind of deceit that permeates every facet of our life in Nigeria. Ehn. Somebody that will collect bribes from you immediately after the prayer is leading the praise and worship.
Well, it's a merciful God because Ayilala won't tolerate this kind of behaviour. https://t.co/qCad62bBGB
— Alli-Balogun H.Lekan (@allibaloo) May 10, 2023
They do this at MDAs, banks and other private enterprises. They block roads for Jummah prayers and crusades. Productive hours & billions of ₦₦ lost. Yet Nigerians are as ungodly as any other people you can think of, if not more.
Hypocrisy ProMax. Religiosity without godliness. https://t.co/CNp5H7QtXa
— Fatima #ObiDatti (First Lady™)أميرة المملكة الوسطى (@AmazingEleojo) May 10, 2023
Nigeria, too much religion with no godliness. That doesn't stop the graft they demand and receive. Tueh https://t.co/SPfqZuCHfr
— Maitamak (@kdaodu) May 10, 2023
Too much religiousity for people that would start receiving bribe by 8:01am https://t.co/4vefMHxMJT
— R! (@iamrildwanbello) May 10, 2023
Wowzas!!!
This is literally the pathetic story across all government agencies.
They pray in the morning and begin to steal right afterwards. Useless bunch of hypocrites. https://t.co/46dQiSZIVW— Ms Baryat #EndSARs #EndPoliceBrutality #ReformNige (@MKabrik) May 10, 2023
Na because them dey make money from the office that’s why https://t.co/SHjblwMUhb
— Prince (@adedex) May 10, 2023
Welcome to Nigeria where we start a meeting with opening prayers, lie and curse all through the meeting, then end with a closing prayer. https://t.co/vrDvRODgqV
— Adimchinobi (@adim4christ) May 10, 2023
Had to look at this video again. Are these guys not the ones so many complain about requesting bribes to issue passports?
The more religious, the more corrupt. https://t.co/rfDzaOcska
— 'Tosin Adeoti (@Thowsyne) May 10, 2023
This is WRONG.
Office resumes by 08:00 AM for services to be rendered to customers/Nigerians paying for the services and not for prayers.
What good has their prayer done?
Will the same officers/persons not come back to extort, insult and misrepresent their office after the…— Chibueze (@excelentspirit) May 10, 2023
After prayers, they will separate those that paid online from those who went through officers.
They will still collect 'office charge' from those that paid online.
We are all clowns but we are not aware..
Nigeria is one big circus— Adenusi 'MuyIII (@amMuyIX) May 10, 2023
Some users also shared their experiences in other government and private work places.
Took my dad for eye check-up in a government eye facility in Umuahia in 2021, got there at 8:20am and the staff where doing morning prayer. Their prayer section ended around 9:30 then they allowed us in. I didn't find it funny at all.
— Nnamdi Uzoukwu🇳🇬 (@NnamdiUzoukwu) May 10, 2023
Same thing happened to me the day I started a job at a real estate company. Devotion followed with 2 more hours of prayers. Then an announcer came to inform us of the two weeks fasting coming up. Last day they saw me there
— Shar💫n (@SharonDoofanSam) May 10, 2023
Add a comment
