Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Rose Uzoma
The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Rose Uzoma, has called on the federal government to provide the parastatal with Unmanned Aerial Aircraft (UAVs), also known as drones, for effective border patrol across the nation.
Uzoma who said this at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, noted that “thousands of unmanned border areas” in the country had continued to pose a major security challenge to Nigeria.”
She stated that the use of the sophisticated aircraft was needed to ensure that the agency completely secures the country’s porous borders, adding that the government could acquire such drones through public /private partnership.
Speaking further, the Comptroller General said: “Talking about what we are doing about porous borders, I think these Unmanned Aerial Aircraft (UAVs) would be very good because nobody can see it and easily shoot it down.”
“It will be recording visual movements and we will be able receive it here at our headquarters because the peculiar nature of our borders really poses a big challenge, because there is no clear cut buffer zone in the case of Nigeria.”
“You have some Niger villages located right within the Nigeria geographical zone and you have some Nigerian villages located in Niger or Cameroon and what have you.”
“All of you know what happens at our Seme border where our control post is located in the Benin territory and our officers are handicapped. Because if you want to stop somebody from crossing he will say I am still in my country; we have these problems,” she said.
The C-G disclosed that presently, the service had two aircraft, a troop carrier, and the main aircraft, which is being fitted with special equipment.
Uzoma said that the service would purchase more vehicles in 2013 for patrol.
“If you are patrolling hundreds of kilometres to make sure that nobody takes the illegal routes, you need to have more than one vehicle. In a state like Adamawa, we only have one border patrol vehicle, but in 2013, we have made provision for more vehicles.”
She further called for more budgetary allocation to the service to enable it perform its duties more effectively.
Uzoma, who assumed office in August 2010, underscored some of her achievements including improved border security, reduction in human trafficking, and the protection of the rights of Nigerians who travel abroad.
The immigration boss said her tenure established a special elite team known as the “Strike Force.” She commended the team for successfully providing back up for routine immigration officers whenever the need arises.
On the issue of passports, the Comptroller General said four million e-passports had been issued to Nigerians since the introduction of biometric passport in 2007.
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