President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to tighten surveillance at Nigerian borders ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections,
In a statement on Tuesday, January 31, issued in Abuja by Sola Fasure, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the directive was given while inaugurating the Katsina NIS Command office, which coincided with the roll-out of the enhanced e-Passport in the state by the Minister.
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“President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that Nigerian borders should be made impenetrable to foreign bodies who might want to come in and manipulate the election process or engage in other nefarious activities.”
“The order from President Muhammadu Buhari is that between now and the time we will conclude elections, you must make sure our borders are secured,” Aregbesola said.
The minister directed officers to ensure that illegal immigrants do not create problems during and after the elections.
Aregbesola also charged them with ensuring the documentation of all migrants.
He said that Katsina State had 400 kilometres of border lines and 14 border positions which the Service needed to protect.
He also disclosed that the government was upgrading the capacity of the NIS to control the nation’s borders effectively.
“We are deploying electronic digital technology to ensure 24/7 surveillance of the 5,000 kilometres border lines,” the Minister added.
Aregbesola added that the Federal Government has already awarded the digital technology contract that will enable the Comptroller-General to see what is happening anytime at any border point.