The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening maritime border security in the country.
The Comptroller General who made this known while delivering her address at the jointly organized workshop by the United Nations counter terrorism team and the Nigeria Immigration Service in Lagos on Tuesday, harped on the importance of re-evaluating strategies of evolving challenges.
Nandap, stated that the service recognize the urgent importance of deploying modern surveillance systems and advanced communication technologies for early threat detection and rapid response.
She said”We recognise the urgent imperative of deploying modern surveillance systems and advanced communication technologies for early threat detection and rapid response. Maritime border security is a cornerstone of national security, and the NIS is unwavering in its mission to prevent foreign terrorist fighters and criminal elements from exploiting our maritime borders ”
She added that “Effective control of passenger movement and travel documentation remains a critical front line in our counter terrorism strategy ”
Nandap while speaking on the theme of the workshop, ‘Maritime Border Security,’ she said, “This forum today further solidifies our collective resolve to combat a wide array of transnational threats, including piracy, terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking, illegal migration, and stowaway incidents.
She noted that the issues jeopardize the safety of vessels and crews, threaten national and regional stability, and undermine economic progress while adding that their response must be multidimensional, encompassing sound policy development, strategic capacity building, robust community engagement, and sustainable regional cooperation.
The NIS Chief, emphasized the significance of the Gulf of Guinea, stretching along West Africa’s Atlantic coast and encompassing nations such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, which she say holds vast strategic and economic importance.
She said the agency’s commitment to technology innovation is top-notch, adding that air-border security are now being integrated into its operations.
The Comptroller-General, however emphasized the necessity of sustained collaboration, innovation, and strategic action in addressing the evolving security challenges of the Gulf of Guinea.
She said “Our presence here today is a clear demonstration of our dedication to the principles outlined in AIMS 2050 and ECOWAS’s Gulf of Guinea strategy. We are committed to creating a safe, secure and prosperous maritime environment, one that supports the growth of the blue economy and advances our collective social, economic and environmental goals ”
She called on all stakeholders to leverage the insights gained from the workshop to build a more secure, resilient, and prosperous maritime environment.
She noted that “As the Nigeria Immigration Service looks forward to the compendium of good practices resulting from this engagement, there is a strong expectation that the outcomes will further enhance cooperation among States, strengthen adherence to international protocols, and bolster joint task force capabilities, all in alignment with Yaounde’Code of Conduct and the ECOWAS integrated Maritime strategy “
