Nigeria is winning the fight against illegal migrants – Immigration boss
Caroline Adepoju, the acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), shared that the number of illegal immigrants entering the country has significantly reduced due to stricter border control measures.
In an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Adepoju highlighted the NIS’s commitment to preventing immigrants from using irregular routes and borders to gain entry into Nigeria.
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Since assuming office as the acting Comptroller-General in May, Adepoju emphasized that the NIS has prioritized addressing concerns related to passport renewal. Recognizing the lengthy renewal process faced by Nigerians, the service is actively working to introduce online passport renewal services. This initiative aims to provide convenience and eliminate the need for individuals to physically visit immigration offices for passport renewal.
Adepoju explained the improved border control measures, stating, “Our borders are now better manned than ever before. We have deployed immigration personnel to various locations. The illegal routes we refer to are areas where we currently lack immigration control posts. These routes are often used due to the unique nature of our borders, which are contiguous with neighboring countries.”
She further clarified the situation, stating, “In many parts of Nigeria, people on both sides of the border share the same language, culture, and ancestry. However, there are designated routes where we have immigration personnel who can endorse travel documents. Under the ECOWAS treaty, West Africans are allowed to enter Nigeria, but they must do so through recognized routes. It is when people try to bypass these procedures, such as entering without ECOWAS travel documents, that they attempt to evade our personnel. Nevertheless, we have deployed personnel to monitor these areas and direct individuals to appropriate routes where travel documents can be checked and endorsed.”
Adepoju confirmed the positive impact of these measures, stating, “As a result, the number of illegal immigrants has drastically reduced. We are no longer allowing people to enter through illegal channels. Anyone attempting to circumvent our recognized routes, such as the regular airports, seaports, and land borders, will be considered illegal immigrants and will not be allowed to enter.”
