Immigration boss seeks joint action against irregular migration

Mrs Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, addressed a stakeholders' seminar on Wednesday in Abuja. She emphasized that advanced border management systems alone are insufficient to tackle the root causes of irregular migration. Nandap urged various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, sister agencies, the media, and the public, to collaborate in raising awareness about migration.

Accurate and timely information is crucial in helping potential migrants make informed decisions and choose lawful pathways, she argued. The Service has been modernizing its systems, deploying advanced technologies, enhancing intelligence gathering, and improving service delivery. However, Nandap stressed that even with sophisticated tools, addressing the underlying factors driving irregular migration requires a collective effort.

She cautioned that misinformation, false promises, and limited knowledge of lawful migration routes can expose individuals to significant risks, such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and travel fraud. Nandap called on government bodies, security agencies, development partners, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, educational institutions, transport operators, and the media to take coordinated action to combat misinformation and promote safe, informed migration.