NIS reveals National Border Management Strategy 2019-2023

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday unveiled its National Border Strategy 2019 to enhance national security.

Immigration officers

Its Comptroller-General, Muhammad Babandede, presented the document in Abuja at a forum with stakeholders.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

He said the strategy would also help in contributing to national economic development, reinforcing social harmony and ensuring migrants’ human rights and the protection of vulnerable migrants.

 

“The NIS National Boarder Management Strategy (NBMS) 2019 to 2023 articulates a renewed five-year vision and institutional approach to border management in Nigeria.

“This is within the scope of the Nigeria Immigration Service,” Babandede said.

The NIS boss explained that when the borders are safe, the nation would also be safe.

“So, the document has addressed the issue of national security, border security and addressed border as a means of trade.”

“It will ensure transparency, it will reduce corruption, it will help to ensure that human rights are protected and we will ensure that smugglers and traffickers are not allowed to leave or enter our country.”

House Committee on Interior Chairman Nasir Daura said the committee would ensure that the NIS gets the necessary support to ensure smooth implementation of the policy.

The lawmaker said the document would help to provide the requisite protection that could ensure the respect and dignity of human rights.

“As a committee we will make the Nigeria Immigration Service more effective by providing the necessary budgetary support to better manage the borders,” he said.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab Ahmed said the effective implementation of the strategy depended on dynamic institutional framework and robust political backing.

The minister was represented by a staff of the Project Office (Migration), Mr Ekom Umoren.

She said the surge in transnational crimes, irregular migration, trafficking and other illicit activities would be tackled in line with national development goals as contained in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERPG).

A Federal Commissioner in the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Basheer Mohammed, also attended the meeting.

Mohammed, who was represented by Charles Anaelo, said the document was a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to entrenching international best practices in border management through a coordinated approach.

The Federal commissioner noted that effective and efficient border management contributed immensely to overall migration management.

“We have no doubt that implementation will be all inclusive and coordinated to ensure coherence,” he said.

IOM’s Chief of Mission Ms Ukamaka Osigwe said the document was developed through an intensive NIS and inter-agency consultations, which spanned from October last year to March 2019.

She added that the rationale behind the development of the strategy was to articulate a better border management in Nigeria within the scope of the duties of the lead agency for border management which is the NIS.