Border security: NIS trains officers on anti-smuggling, human trafficking
As part of efforts to boost security across the country’s borders, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday commenced a two-day training for its officers on combating smuggling and human trafficking.
As part of efforts to boost security across the country's borders, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday commenced a two-day training for its officers on combating smuggling and human trafficking.
The training, which focuses on implementing the revalidated National Migration Policy (NMP 2025) will strengthen officers’ capacity to tackle smuggling, irregular migration, and human trafficking.
Participants were exposed to the latest trends and tricks adopted by smugglers and traffickers, with emphasis placed on better surveillance practices.
Declaring the exercise open at the NIS Zone A Command in Lagos, yesterday, NIS Comptroller-General (CG), Kemi Nandap, said the policy was critical to addressing emerging migration challenges and strengthening border governance.
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Represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) in charge of Zone A, Mohamed Adamu, Nandap said the exercise became necessary following gaps identified in earlier migration frameworks.
Nigeria first adopted a National Migration Policy in 2013 to coordinate migration management in line with regional and global commitments. However, the framework later proved inadequate due to evolving migration trends, economic realities, and growing national security concerns, prompting its review.
She said a perception survey also revealed low awareness of the policy among key stakeholders, which hindered effective implementation.
According to the CG, the training was designed to improve professionalism among officers, strengthen migration procedures, and enhance inter-agency collaboration.
Participants, she said, were expected to transfer the knowledge gained to officers at command and service levels to ensure clarity of roles and support effective implementation of the revised policy.
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Nandap highlighted ongoing reforms within the NIS, including the introduction of the e-Visa regime, Contactless Passport Application System, e-Border Solution infrastructure, Passport Personalisation Centre, and the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.
She stressed the importance of positioning Nigeria’s borders as both safeguards against transnational crimes and gateways for legitimate trade, investment, and tourism.
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“The success of this policy depends on the commitment, professionalism, and adaptability of officers across all commands,” she said.
Speaking with journalists, Adamu said the sensitisation programme reflected the service’s renewed focus on strengthening border security and migration management.
He noted that the revised policy would expand the service’s operational scope as a lead agency in border control, particularly in addressing smuggling, irregular migration, and human trafficking.
Adamu also assured Nigerians of intensified engagement with border communities to boost cooperation in combating cross-border crimes.
“We carry out extensive sensitisation through our comptrollers in border areas, engaging stakeholders and host communities for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.
