The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, CGI Mohammed Babandede, has averred that the Service’s upgraded e-Border management project is the most suitable and modern approach to meaningfully address the nation’s border security concerns especially at the land borders.
The CGI stated this on the occassion of the Service’s relocation to its newly constructed ultra-modern office complex for its Command in Sokoto State.
TheFact Nigeria notes that the CGI had, in 2019, at a retreat in Lagos, disclosed the Federal Government’s planned electronic border monitoring system to commence fully this year. The e-Border system, Babandede had said, would enable officials to see real time online situation of the country’s borders. The sum of N52bn had been earmarked by the Federal Executive Council for the project.
While congratulating the Service during the commissioning of the complex, the executive governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, described the decision by the management of the Service to build a new State Command Complex for its Officers and Men, as not only very timely but strategic.
He noted that the edifice will offer conducive workplace environment for the Service, and stressed that the State recognizes the crucial role of the NIS in the national security architecture.
“As a State with very vast international borderline, we put high interest in any efforts that would make Officers and Men of the Immigration Service to be comfortable in the State to do their job and this is the reason why we commend the management of the Service for completing the project”, he said.
Governor Tambuwal applauded the efforts of CGI Babandede for the digitization of NIS systems and operations, and specifically appreciated the choice of Ilella Border Control Post in the State as the Pilot Centre for the e-Border project. He noted that the effort will significantly address the security concerns at the land borderlines in the State.
The governor further affirmed the State’s readiness to continue to support the Service in any way possible for enhanced service delivery to the good people of Sokoto State and the country at large.
In his remarks earlier, the CGI reiterated the Service’s uncommon commitment to the welfare of the workforce.
He stated that upon assumption of Office as Comptroller General, he noticed a huge infrastructural deficit in the system and got committed to building at least two Command Office Complexes yearly. This, he emphasized, has been pursued very vigorously till date with the Sokoto Command Complex being the twelfth of such buildings already delivered while six others are currently in various stages of completion. Before now the Sokoto State Command had been operating at the Federal Secretariat in the State for decades.
Babandede thanked the Federal Government for the delivery of the NIS Technology Building which currently houses the e-Border project.
“As I speak, we can monitor real time online all movements and activities at Ilella Border Control Post. The Illella Control Post is our e-Border Pilot Centre and to this effect, we have upgraded it to a full Command Structure under the supervision of a Comptroller of Immigration”, he noted.
The Comptroller General further affirmed management’s renewed commitment to profound reform efforts that would deliver the most effective and efficient Migration Management agency to the country.
He applauded the Governor for the warm reception accorded his team at the Government House and expressed appreciation for the Governor’s gracious acceptance to personally commission the office complex.
The Immigration Chief used the opportunity to thank the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for providing good leadership to the Ministry and its agencies, especially Nigeria Immigration Service.
He equally thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for investing heavily in NIS which has indeed positioned the Service very strategically in the country’s security system.
Dignitaries at the event include the Deputy Governor, Hon. Manir Mohammad Dan-Iya, Secretary to the State Government, Saidu Umaru Ubandoma, other State Government functionaries, as well as representatives of military and paramilitary agencies in the State.
