The federal government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Indian government in eradicating fake passports into India.

Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola said this in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the ministry, Afonja Ajibola, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Aregbesola spoke while receiving the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gangadharan Balasubramanian, in Abuja.

The minister said Nigeria would remain grateful to the government and people of India for her support to Nigeria during the country’s anti-colonial struggle that led to independence.

Mr Aregbesola pledged Nigeria’s full cooperation with India through its immigration service to stop unscrupulous persons and syndicates engaging in fraudulent procurement of fake official Nigerian travelling documents to enter India illegally.

He called for closer collaboration between governments by providing useful information and intelligence reports that would assist in unmasking those involved to get them arrested to face the full weight of the law.

The minister said the federal government would prefer the judicial process run its course on some arrested mariners caught on a ship, accused of illegal activity.

He said the federal government frowned at all illegalities and would not condone individuals’ procurement of fake visas to gain false entry into another country.

Mr Aregbesola, however, implored Mr Balasubramanian for technical assistance through scholarships and professional courses/training as part of partnership cooperation.

This, the minister said, would go a long way in enhancing the performance of its paramilitary agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), a civil protection corps that responds to emergencies.

He added that the NSCDC also complemented the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in maintaining law and order.

In his remarks, the high commissioner, who commended the cordial relationship between both countries, promised to explore more areas of cooperation that would further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the duo.

Mr Balasubramanian added that already, seven agencies of government, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), were currently undergoing relevant courses in India as a demonstration of partnership support to Nigeria.

The permanent secretary in the ministry, Shuaib Belgore, commended the high commissioner for his visit.