The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called on personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to adopt a proactive approach to border security and management, emphasizing that a country’s security is fundamentally tied to the integrity of its borders.
Speaking on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State, at the NIS Comptroller General Annual Conference 2024, themed “Enhancing Border Security and Migration Management in a Globalized World: Challenges and Opportunities for Nigeria,” Tunji-Ojo highlighted the need for effective collaboration with relevant agencies and the Border Communities Development Association. He noted that actionable intelligence is crucial for ensuring security.
He stated, “We have finally woken up to the reality that we are only as secured as our borders are. If you do not have a protective border, you cannot enhance internal security. And when there is no security, there can never be productivity. Your relevance is your proactiveness and ability to solve problems, even before they come. Security all over the world is no longer reactive; it is proactive.”
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the NIS should not be relegated to auxiliary roles, such as the issuance of travel documents. He urged them to take an active role in border governance, asserting that “mediocrity has no place in border governance.”
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by Secretary to the State Government Samuel Jatau, affirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the NIS to tackle border-related challenges. He expressed optimism that the conference would facilitate a thorough assessment and strategic planning for effective border surveillance.
Comptroller General of NIS, Kemi Nandap, acknowledged the challenges in securing Nigeria’s 4,047 km borders with neighboring countries and the Gulf of Guinea. She reiterated the NIS’s commitment to leveraging technology, international cooperation, and capacity building to address these issues. Nandap outlined key objectives for the conference, including assessing the NIS’s preparedness and identifying emerging challenges and opportunities in border governance and migration management
