Buhari directs Immigration to tighten security around borders

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to beef up the security around the nation’s borders.

He specifically asked them to “ensure that criminal elements don’t find Nigeria as a safe haven to hide and perpetuate their criminality.”

The President gave the directive in his speech at the virtual opening ceremony of the Nigeria Immigration Service Technology Building at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as telling all security agencies to raise their performance in protecting lives and property, with a mandate that the country’s Global Security Index must be improved.

He said, “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.”

He urged the NIS to collaborate with international security organisations such as the INTERPOL in safeguarding the borders.

He said, “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 perpetuate 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 Minister of Interior, Ogbeni 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.

He said, “This is in line with the vision of our administration to formulate and implement policies that will protect and enhance the lives and standards of living for Nigerians.

“This administration is relentless in its avowed desire to create an enabling business environment that will usher in an economic boom for Nigerians and all those who do business with and in Nigeria.” In his remarks, the Minister of Interior said the security challenges facing the country were temporary and surmountable, stressing that the “weakest link” had been the land borders and the Technology Building would play a pivotal role in the control of illegal migration.

He said 50 per cent of all immigration personnel would now work at the borders of the country.

The Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammed Babandede said the Technology Building remained the best project the service had ever initiated and completed since it was established in 1958.

He said the deployment of technology from the Control Room woulf optimize intelligence, ensure that no passport lost, stolen or re-issued could be presented in any part of the world, and enhance synchronization and virtual sharing of information with other security outfits, both local and international.