From Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), Muhammad Babandede has advised the Ogun state command of the service to court the cooperation of sister agencies - the police, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Security Service among others, in its efforts towards combating trafficking in persons and other border crimes.
Babandede said electronic border (e - border) monitoring, surveillance and control for the nation's seaports, international airports and land borders are underway to be adopted soon in tackling transborder criminals, banditry, border crimes and related offences.
He added that the necessary technology for the e - border control system would be built and installed at strategic places to provide "real time online," of any suspicious movement and activities around the nation's borders - land, sea and air, in good time.
The Comptroller - General spoke at the weekend in Ilashe town, Ogun State, while inaugurating the newly established NIS Ogun state Command Forward Operation Base (FOB) at the border area community.
He explained that the intelligence gathered from the e - border control system, will be swiftly passed across to the appropriate security agencies for action, stressing that the Ilashe FOB being the second to be established in the state, would assist the officers of the Command in policing of the Nigerian land borders with the Republic of Benin.
He charged the officers and men of the command to be civil in their engagement with the law abiding citizens, saying their arms are for defending the country and not for harassing Nigerians.
He noted that as far as NIS was concerned, all the borders have been opened for entry and exit by travellers or migrants but said such entry or exit must follow through the legal routes and such traveller must also present valid travel documents.
Also speaking, governor Dapo Abiodun who was represented by the state commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Taiwo Emmanuel, urged Federal Government to give Ogun state a Special Status in terms of border control and administration, given her strategic position as an industrial hub and a window to the West African countries.
Abiodun said migration is an integral part of life as it helps drives growth and development but stressed that if left unchecked could present enormous challenges.
While pledging his administration's continued support to NIS, the Governor charged service to stay committed to its task and use intelligence gathering or report to police the borders and stop people of unwholesome intentions, bandits and insurgents from penetrating the country.
In his welcome address, the state Comptroller, Ogun State Command of NIS, Kunle Osisanya, noted that there are many unauthorised routes in the state but assured that the FOB would assist the command in tackling human trafficking and other border crimes.
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