Irregular migration threat to peaceful polls, CG warns

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), yesterday, said irregular migration through the borders remains a security concern, as the most populous black nation prepares to conduct general elections this year, urging that all hands must be on deck to secure the gateways.

The Comptroller General, Isah Idris, raised the concern at the commissioning of assorted radio and communication equipment worth millions of naira donated to the agency by international telecommunications infrastructure giant, IHS Towers Nigeria, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Abuja.

He said the donation would boost national security and enhance capacity of the Service to deliver better on its mandate

“These modern telecommunications radio equipment will entrench a more effective and efficient integration and inter-connectivity between the Service’s formations and the headquarters. This will further enhance communications as part of efforts towards emplacing border patrol operations and strategies to combat recurring trend of irregular migration,” the CG noted.

Appreciating the donor, Idris added: “This support is equally coming at a very auspicious time, particularly as the Service is deploying regulated internal monitoring and control mechanism ahead of the fast-approaching 2023 elections.

“This is in view of the fact that this national exercise places enormous task on NIS to not only effect the presidential directive on border closure during the elections, but to equally work with other security agencies as stakeholders to guarantee conduct of free and fair elections.”

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IHS Towers, Muhammed Darwish, said the partnership was to safeguard Nigeria.

His words: “There is actually nothing more noble than giving back to the community that we operate in through the various government agencies that do a lot to keep this country safe.

“The donation is a token of our appreciation towards what the Immigration Service has accomplished in Nigeria and to the Comptroller General for his able guidance and leadership.”

A Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) was also signed by the two organisations to deepen security collaboration.