Get Guardian on GoogleComptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has called for heightened synergy and collective vigilance among security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s borders and ensure a secure environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She made the call during a high level sensitisation workshop dedicated to electoral security preparedness for officers of the Service.
The CG said that border security and migration management play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s broader security architecture, especially during political transitions.
She warned that porous borders could be exploited by bad actors for the influx of irregular migrants, illicit arms, and transnational criminal syndicates attempting to undermine the electoral process.
Nandap pointed that “Achieving this requires collective vigilance, effective coordination, and the commitment of all institutions entrusted with safeguarding our nation,” adding that intelligence sharing and sustained inter-agency cooperation remain non-negotiable.
Reiterating the non-partisan stance of the service, the NIS boss charged all officers and men to maintain absolute political neutrality, discipline, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
She cautioned that official resources must never be deployed to promote partisan interests, stressing that institutional loyalty belongs strictly to the Constitution.
Represented by the Deputy Controller Greek in Charge of Visa and Residency, Franca Nwanneka, Nandap warned that “Under no circumstance should our personnel use official resources to promote partisan interests.
“Our loyalty must remain firmly in the Constitution. You must ensure that our commands are adequately prepared before, during, and after elections through strengthening surveillance, intelligence gathering, effective deployment, and close coordination with relevant security agencies.”
Also speaking, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, pledged his agency’s readiness to partner with the NIS to ensure successful 2027 general election.
Represented by Deputy Director General Patrick Ikenweiwe, he noted that managing potential cross-border threats and election related security challenges requires a unified front, joint threat assessments, and real-time intelligence sharing.
The workshop also featured robust stakeholder discussions focusing on proactive deployment strategies through the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and the reinforcement of internal accountability frameworks to ensure professional conduct across all operational formations.
