The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Martins Abeshi, has said that the Service is exploring the use of modern technology to effectively man the porous Nigerian borders. Abeshi disclosed this on Friday in Abuja when a delegation from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) paid him a courtesy visit.
The comptroller-general, who decried the lack of effective surveillance across Nigerian land borders, said the NIS was working on the idea of implementing the Mexican border management model.
He stressed the importance of using sophisticated technology and cameras with control units to police the nation’s large stretch of borders as it was done in developed countries.
He called on the IOM and other international stakeholders to collaborate with the NIS in this regard.
“One of our major challenges in NIS is in the area of effective land border control and management.
“We, therefore, solicit the support of the IOM in this regard, especially as regards using modern technology and equipment for this purpose,’’ he said.
Abeshi attributed the spate of terrorism in Nigeria to the porous borders and stressed the need to address the border issue as part of plans to curb terrorism in the country.
He said that plans were also underway to beef up surveillance at the nation’s airports and seaports.
He said that the NIS would continue to work with relevant stakeholders both locally and internationally in its bid to reposition the NIS in line with international best practice.
Earlier, Mrs Enira Krdzalic, Chief of Mission, IOM, said the organisation was ready to support Nigeria in the area of effective border patrol management and data for migrants into Nigeria.
She said that the IOM would be working closely with the NIS and other relevant stakeholders in the areas of border management, training of personnel and deployment of equipment to the borders.
Statistics obtained by the news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from the NIS reveals that there are more than 1,400 illegal border routes in the country with 84 approved land border posts which are not properly equipped (NAN)
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