Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has revealed plans of the Service to rejig its Border Corps Unit as part of efforts to police the country’s borders effectively.
Nandap disclosed this yesterday after the inauguration of 30 operational vehicles for border surveillance and patrol at the Service headquarters in Abuja, shortly after he Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo stated that the growing insecurity in the country is a direct correlation to the nation’s porous borders, disclosing that efforts are in top gear to secure Nigeria’s borders.
The Border Corps Unit was introduced in 2014 by the federal government to tackle security challenges occasioned by the country’s porous borders.
The CG said the newly acquired vehicles were “a tangible effort to enhance the security and integrity of our nation’s borders, which is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
“We are going to have a border corps”, she said, noting that the President was serious about securing the country’s borders.
Nandap said: “We will have boots on the ground. We will train our personnel, we will equip them, and they are ready to work.”
The CG while noting that effective border surveillance and patrol play a significant role in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting the citizens, preserving its economic prosperity as well as facilitating regular, safe, and orderly migration, said the 30 new vehicles represent a concrete investment in providing immigration officers with the tools needed to carry out their duties.
She noted that: “With enhanced mobility, our border patrol teams will be better equipped to detect and deter illegal activities, including smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and other transnational crimes.
“This investment in Border Security will be complemented with a rejig of our Border Corps architecture to include agile Sector Commanders to carry out consistent surveillance and patrol of our border in line with our core mandate.
She therefore charged the personnel to own the responsibility of securing the country’s borders and be dogged and watchful.
The CG warned them against partaking in any acts that contravene the laws or tarnish the image of the NIS, adding: “We will not tolerate any compromise to the nation’s security.”
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Interior,Tunji-Ojo, emphasised the need for a secured border, noting that insecurity could easily be dealt with when it’s internal.
He said to secure the country and end the current security challenges, the President was committed to providing the right leadership, equipment, welfare and all that is needed for the NIS to do its duty diligently and effectively.
“Once our borders are protected, internal threats can easily be dealt with.
“So the time for rhetoric is over. It is time for action. The security and protection of our borders is now. The current insurgency and other security challenges are a wake-up call, and it will soon be over,” Tunji-Ojo said.
