Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has restricted 14 internationally flagged persons of interest from entering Nigeria, marking a major breakthrough in the country’s fight against terrorism and cross-border crime.
The minister of interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed this during the official unveiling of the Modernising Nigeria Immigration Service (MoNIS) Workforce Project.
The NIS career progression, training policy framework and gender mainstreaming policy were developed with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), aimed at strengthening the NIS in key areas of operation.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that these accomplishments were achieved by the dedicated officers of the NIS who performed admirably without relying on assistance from other agencies. The arrests were made possible by advanced technology, which allowed the service to track and review the profiles of individuals before they even arrived at Nigerian borders.
He said, “I am proud to say that the Nigerian Immigration Service is now doing business in an extraordinary way,” Tunji-Ojo declared, “From all indications, it is now positioned to compete with the best services in the world and defend the integrity of our nation.”
The minister acknowledged that illegal migration had long been a persistent challenge and stressed the necessity of institutionalising strategies to combat the issue. He said modernising the Nigeria Immigration Service is not just an option but a necessity for the nation’s security.
Tunji-Ojo also discussed the MONIS Project, noting that a recent review of its key policies—Career Plan, E-learning, and Gender Mainstreaming—revealed the scope and potential of the reforms. He emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is not merely about promises but about achieving real results through thoughtful resolutions and timely implementation.
Highlighting President Tinubu’s strong political will, the minister reassured that the President is committed to driving meaningful reforms to automate and modernize the NIS, with the aim of securing Nigeria’s borders and combating all forms of insecurity. “President Tinubu is ready to approve the necessary resources to resolve issues, and we are committed to making these reforms a reality,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo expressed optimism about the future of the NIS, stating that the days of overlooking qualified individuals with immense potential to contribute to the service are over. Once fully modernised and automated, the NIS will ensure a safer border and a more secure nation.
“Migration is scientific and dynamic,” the minister warned. “We are dealing with evolving patterns of crime, driven by advanced technologies and methodologies employed by smugglers, traffickers, and other criminals. We must stay ahead of them, as they continue to innovate. Allowing criminals to be one step ahead of the state will lead to chaos and destruction.”
He urged that the Nigerian government must be proactive rather than reactive in addressing border crimes and emphasized the importance of identifying and solving challenges before they escalate. “All we ask is for full attention to future challenges and for proactive solutions,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo also expressed his gratitude to the Danish government for their support but urged all development partners to focus on providing Nigeria with technology, knowledge transfer, and results-oriented strategies. He reassured these partners that their investments in Nigeria would be maximized to achieve the desired outcomes.
Earlier in her speech, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, described the launch of the projects as the culmination of years of effort by officers of the service, stakeholders, and consultants who worked tirelessly under the Modernising Nigeria Immigration Service (MoNIS) Workforce Project. Their efforts led to the development of key policy documents designed to guide the service in the efficient and effective management of human resources.
Emphasizing that these policy documents directly address the efficient management of personnel, she highlighted that they also embed professionalism and the core values of the service into the daily routines of its officers. She further explained that the importance placed on entrepreneurship as a critical factor of production makes the project particularly relevant for the service. It will empower personnel to implement reforms and policies more pragmatically, thereby building a stronger institution capable of driving the service’s mandate.
Additionally, she sID, the NIS Gender Policy is poised to mainstream gender considerations into the service’s core operations, ensuring an environment where both genders can thrive and contribute to the delivery of excellent service.
This document is not new to me. As a former co-chair of the Technical Working Committee, while serving as Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of the Migration Management Directorate, I am well aware that 55 courses have been developed for NIS training institutions to address identified skill gaps in our operations. Recently, I was informed that efforts are underway to integrate these courses into the NIS Learning Management System, donated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). These initiatives aim to ensure that training is career progression-based and accessible to all officers, regardless of their location.
While assuring that the document will not gather dust after its launch, the NIS bioss revealed that two committees will be inaugurated to design strategies for institutionalizing these policies and frameworks. These committees will address any resistance to change and work to integrate the content of the policies into the service’s organisational culture.
“We are grateful to the Government of Denmark for funding this paradigm-shifting initiative, which has been diligently implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). I want to assure you that the service now fully owns this project and is committed to its implementation,” she stated. “We owe a debt of gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to its success.”
She also expressed her gratitude to the Minister of Interior, whom she praised for his reform-minded leadership, unwavering commitment, and political will, which ensured the approval of this landmark document, making the entire process a reality.
“To all NIS personnel, we have committed to being our best. For us, this is a call to duty, and we must work urgently to achieve excellence,” she concluded.
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