How Smugglers In Nigeria Uses 120 Illegal Routes-Nigeria Immigration Service

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Rabiu Omaku

The Comptroller General Nigeria Immigration Service,Martin Kure Abeshi has uncovered that smugglers in Nigeria used 120 illegal routes, the CG identified some of the nagging challenges faced by the service to include ill- demarcated borders,inactions of border communities towards officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Other weaknesses of the service also includes porous borders,the used of obsolete gadgets, understaffed and paucity of fund as the daunting hiccups facing Nigeria Immigration Service, Abeshi stated this during the 2016 Comptroller General Conference And Stakeholders Interactive Forum held in Lafia.

The Comptroller General revealed that the Nigerian Immigration has not less than 22,000 personnel ,he however said the current leadership of the service has repositioned the service, stating that the Nigeria Immigration Service has improved its border security through the new border solution.

Martin Kure Abeshi said the new border solution was introduced with a control room in the service headquarter, adding that said there was improved technology in all land borders in the country.

The Comptroller General affirmed that the service has maintained an effective internal control  mechanism that would track unscrupulous elements migrating into the country without proper documents, he also added that security has been beefed up in the violent North-East states which he listed to include Adamawa,Yobe and Borno state.

He commended members of the National Assembly for making laws for the issuance of passport to Nigerian nationals ,saying the initiative would curb the influx of immigrants into the country.

On his part the Minister of Interior,Abdulrahman Danbazau described the use of obsolete laws as a major setback to the operations of Immigration service, he in addition said the new legal framework  of the 2015 Immigration Act has strengthened visa administration,  anti-smuggling, human trafficking,terrorism and other social vices.

The minister averred that the new legal framework would guarantee effective management of immigrants, the interior minister commended monarchs and the media for supporting the service, he also tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service to shun corrupt practices.

Abdulrahman Danbazau called on the participants to come up with issues that would effect changes in the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in his goodwill message commended the Comptroller General for hosting 2016 General Annual Conference in the state, calling on the Nigerian Immigration Service to protect the nations population and integrity at all times, he also urged the service to adopt the primary and unilateral approach to immigration issues.

The Deputy Governor ,Silas Ali Agara who represented the Governor attributed contradictory immigration laws as an impediment to the entire system, as he called for a shift from sectorial to more comprehensive approach.

The Nasarawa state Governor also called for synergy between the Immigration Service and embassies issuing visas,He also appealed to the Interior ministry to fashioned out ways of entering and exist of people into the country.

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