The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has concluded its Annual Comptroller General Conference in Jos, Plateau State, with a focus on enhancing border security and migration management in Nigeria. The conference, themed “Enhancing Border Security and Migration Management in a Globalized World: Challenges and Opportunities for Nigeria,” took place from October 30 to November 2, 2024, at the Crispan Hotel.
Attended by 448 participants, including key government officials, security chiefs, diplomatic representatives, and experts from various sectors, the conference provided a platform to address the complexities of securing Nigeria’s 4,047-kilometer border, which spans across five neighboring countries—Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and the Gulf of Guinea.
Dignitaries at the event included the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Architect Samuel Jatau; Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; National Security Adviser; Chief of Defense Staff; and heads of various paramilitary and security agencies. Members of the diplomatic community and development partners also graced the occasion, demonstrating the international and collaborative approach the NIS aims to adopt.
The conference aimed to assess the current state of the NIS, identify emerging challenges and opportunities in border governance, and develop strategies to strengthen the service’s role in national security and economic growth. Key objectives included evaluating the NIS’s preparedness to meet its mandate, discussing innovative approaches to border security, and aligning migration management practices with global standards.
Over three days of plenary sessions, technical workshops, and peer-to-peer learning exercises, participants examined ways to improve the NIS’s efficiency and effectiveness. The conference culminated in seven major resolutions to reform the service, with an emphasis on leveraging technology, enhancing staff welfare, and promoting professionalism.
The resolutions include strengthening collaboration with other agencies, deploying cutting-edge technology for border security and visa processing, and aligning NIS operations with government initiatives on foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism. Additionally, the NIS committed to restructuring its divisional offices in all 774 local government areas for better intelligence gathering and proactive engagement with border communities.
The conference also emphasized the importance of process re-engineering under the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” aiming to foster patriotism, discipline, and seamless service delivery. Furthermore, the NIS pledged to invest in staff motivation, training, and capacity-building initiatives to boost professionalism. As part of its commitment to staff welfare, the service plans to implement a robust health insurance and pension package for retired officers.
In a closing statement, Comptroller General KN Nandap expressed appreciation for the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Interior in repositioning the NIS. He also extended gratitude to the Governor of Plateau State and the residents for their warm hospitality.
With these resolutions, the NIS aims to implement sustainable reforms to fulfill its statutory mandate, bolster border security, and enhance national security in the face of evolving global challenges.