Border security: NIS upskills officers
Nigeria Immigration Services yesterday begun a two-day training for its officers on anti-smuggling and human trafficking. The training, with focus on implementation of the revalidated National Migration Policy (NMP 2025),
- Service poised to end smuggling, human trafficking
Nigeria Immigration Services yesterday begun a two-day training for its officers on anti-smuggling and human trafficking.
The training, with focus on implementation of the revalidated National Migration Policy (NMP 2025), will strengthen officers’ capacity to tackle smuggling, irregular migration and human trafficking.
Participants were exposed to latest trends, tricks adopted by smugglers and traffickers, with emphasis on better surveillance practice.
Declaring the exercise open at NIS Zone A Command in Lagos, yesterday, Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap, said the policy was critical to addressing migration challenges and strengthening border governance.
Represented by Assistant Comptroller-General of Zone A, Mohamed Adamu, Nandap said the exercise became necessary following gaps idetified in earlier migration frameworks.
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Nigeria first adopted a National Migration Policy in 2013 to coordinate migration management in line with regional and global commitments. However, the framework proved inadequate due to evolving migration trends, economic realities and growing national security concerns.
She said a perception survey also showed low awareness of the policy among key stakeholders, which hindered effective implementation.
The Immigration chief said the training would 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.
Nandap noted reforms in the service, including introduction of e-Visa regime, Contactless Passport Application System, e-Border Solution infrastructure, Passport Personalisation Centre and ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.
She stressed importance of positioning Nigeria’s borders as safeguards against transnational crimes and gateways for legitimate trade, investment and tourism.
“The success of this policy depends on commitment, professionalism and adaptability of officers,” she said.
Speaking with reporters, Adamu said the programme reflected the 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 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 Nigerians,” he said.
