Kuni Tyessi In Abuja
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Muhammad Babandede has directed the distribution of Safe Migration Booklets to migrants or immigrants, as this will enlighten travellers against human trafficking and the smuggling of contraband.
Also, the Border Patrol Corps have been tasked to intensify patrol along the border flanks while all officers on land, sea and air control post have been directed to ensure that all persons entering and departing Nigeria do so with a valid document and through a recognised port.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Service, Sunday James, migrants applying for passports and those crossing the Nigerian borders will be given the booklet on safe migration free of charge as a public enlightenment campaign strategy.
He said: ln view of the above and as part of the strategy to educate members of the public on the dangers of Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) and Trafficking In Persons (TIP) across all our service windows, the Service has directed the public to be educated on the risk of irregular migration as contained in the recently launched document titled ‘Passport to Safe Migration’.
“Migrants applying for passports and those crossing our borders will be given the booklet free of charge as a public enlightenment campaign strategy.
“Nigeria Immigration Service under the ‘ECOWAS/Spanish Fund on Migration’ produced the document. The general public is hereby enjoined to partner with the Service to educate travellers on the risk involved when they migrate in or out of Nigeria irregularly.”
