Minister of interior Olubumi Tunji Ojo says there is urgent need to address the issue of porous borders in the country
Tunji-Ojo made this known in lagos at the Unveiling of the remodelled clearance area of the E-arrival wing of the murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos
He noted that what is of most importance to him when it comes to the Immigration Service is border control , as issue of travel documents, passports, Visas etc are less than 20% of what Immigration Service should be about, as the major responsibility is mainly border control.
He stated that “The porosity of our border mainly has to be looked into, securing my four thousand and thirty two kilometres of border stretch is a huge responsibility and manning my one thousand eight hundred entry points is a priority for the president and this administration ”
The interior minister further stressed “Ensuring that the twenty one states that border other countries are well secured, and they become integral rather than contagious is a major priority for this administration, because Nigeria is unique that we border four countries by land terrestrially”
He explained that we border Chad, Cameron, Benin and Niger Republic,, stating that two are ECOWAS countries while two are non ECOWAS countries and the non ECOWAS do not enjoy privileges of ECOWAS adding that by virtue of that ability to secure our borders will only lead to a secured nation
“The dream of having a secured nation where Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed will continue to be a mirage if we do not secure our borders and of course by virtue of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS Act 2015, the lead agency for border control and border management is the NIS.
He charged the Immigration Service to wake up as it is time to be alive to the responsibility of securing our borders and collaborating with Nigeria customs in ensuring that both goods and human beings who enter into Nigeria are people that should be here, as security of Nigerians depends on how well we protect our borders as it is the real job to bring renewed hope.
On her part Comptroller General of the NIS Wuraola Adepoju while commending NNPC and SNEPCo for their commitment in remodeling the E arrival wing, also commended the NIS Comptroller MMIA Adeola Adesokan for harnessing the opportunity she had in improving facilitation at the airport.
Adepoju noted that when there is a will there is a way and with strong determination, alot can be achieved
She stressed that”For you this nation future is bright , you can be rest assured in the Renewed Hope Agenda, that we will smile in this country. You can see the ambiance of this place, it is the product of the thought of a willing mind, somebody who is willing to work”
- NIS Comptroller MMIA Adeola Adesokan say newly remodelled facility reflects dedication not just to advancing infrastructure but to elevating the entire experience of every traveller by eliminating long queues for arriving passengers.
