President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to improve surveillance and control around the nation’s borders in order to secure the country against foreigners who want to make Nigeria their operation field.
President Buhari gave the order at the virtual inauguration of the NIS Technology Building in Abuja.
The President also instructed all security agencies to raise their performance in protecting lives and property with a mandate that the country’s Global Security Index be improved.
He stated that “It is imperative that our ranking in the Global Security Index improves, and I am using this medium to call on all security agencies to step up their activities towards achieving this goal. I assure you that the administration will give the much needed support to you in your operations.
“As a security agency, I charge you to be relentless in carrying out your statutory duties of keeping our borders safe while you ensure that criminal elements don’t find Nigeria as a safe haven to hide and perpetrate their criminality.
“I urge you to actively collaborate with International Security Organisations, like the INTERPOL, in safeguarding our borders. Remember that a safe border is a prerequisite for a safe Nation.
“You must develop strong working relationships and ties with the international community and friendly nations as it relates to migration management; adopt and implement workable strategies from them while also sharing your best practices.
“Frontline workers and operators should remember that they are our windows to the world. They must show the best face of Nigeria at all times.”
The President commended the Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, for consistently pushing for the completion of the Technology Building, which will serve as the Command and Control Centre of the NIS, as well as the repository of personal data of Nigerians and expatriates resident in Nigeria.
Aregbesola assured the nation that the security challenges facing the country were temporal and surmountable.
The minister said the “weakest link” had been the land borders, assuring that the Technology Building would play a pivotal role in control of illegal migration.
He said the Visa-on-Arrival policy of the Federal Government gets proper documentation of all entrants and sharing with international security structures to ensure tight surveillance and compliance, while announcing a review period of stay from 90 days to 30 days.
He said 50 per cent of all immigration personnel will henceforth work at the nation’s borders.
NIS Comptroller General Muhammed Babandede said the Technology Building remained the best project the service had ever initiated and completed since it was established in 1958.
