Emmanuel urges NIS on new measures to prevent terrorist attacks

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has asked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to adopt new approaches to protecting the nation, noting that such innovations would be imperative in checkmating acts of terrorism.

Emmanuel, who said this on Monday during a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on the Nigeria Visa Policy Document (NVP 2020) by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Akwa Ibom State Command, added that a healthy and timely can be deployed to prevent attacks by terrorists.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo at the occasion, asked the NIS to take a cue from the Unites States, which have made their Immigration Service a part of their Department of Homeland Affairs with a view to preventing a repeat of the September 11, 2001 terrorists’ attack.

Emmanuel hailed the cooperation of security that exists between the various security agencies, adding that the state government will continue to work with all federal agencies to make sure peace and tranquillity prevail in the state.

He said: “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is a critical member of the Nigerian Security architecture. In most of the advanced world, it is part of the first line of national defence, given the critical role it plays in admitting visitors through various ports of entry in those nations.

“In today’s world of asymmetric security situations, the seemingly innocent visitor you may have admitted into your country may be part of a terrorist sleeper cell. Such a visitor may have been sent by his or her sponsors with the expressed evil command to cause a breach of public peace through acts of terrorism.

“The need, therefore, for the Immigration Service to meet regularly, explore new approaches to protecting the nation, and thinking, anticipating, and disrupting such evil designs has become even more urgent and imperative.

“I am optimistic that this Seminar, with the quality of the professionals assembled, will, at the end, come up with new ways and approaches by the Service to deliver its mandate and ensure that evil persons are kept away from our shores.”

Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Isah Jere Idris, in his address stated the visa is one of the strongest instruments used by nations to control the entry and exit of migrants into their territories.

Idris said a visa is a tool used to spur economic development, enhance global relationships and promote peace and security.

Idris who was represented by the Acting Comptroller General, Zonal Coordinator Zone E, Owerri, E C Ejiogu, said Akwa Ibom is ranked second after Lagos when it comes to the ease of doing business in Nigeria, adding that it is the second-highest in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

He called for more discussions and collaboration on how to work out a much more responsive and enduring security arrangement for the Blue Border areas of the state

“The Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP 2020) is an ambitious document that would drastically transform the economy of our country. In the document, we have expanded Visa classes from mere six to 79 classes in three new categories of Short Visit Visa (28 classes), Temporary Residence Visa (36 classes) and Permanent Residence Visa (15 classes).

“The major highlight of the document is that we now have Visa classes for every conceivable purpose of travel unlike before when we issue only business or work Visa to anyone desirous of coming into the country.

“Akwa Ibom State has the longest and largest coastline in the country. Its coastline measures about 129 kilometres. The aquatic resources are massive just as the need to emplace deliberate maritime security structure for effective protection is imperative,” he stated.

Speaking, Comptroller of Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State Command, George Chamlong Didel, decried the high rate of human trafficking and the crime of harvesting human parts in the state.

Didel, however, promised that the Command would redouble its effort to tackle illegal migration in the state, and encouraged those with legitimate reasons to migrate to partner with the service for authentic travel documents.

He also informed the public of an existence of an ECOWAS passport which could enable them to do business around West African Countries.

“A lot of people do not know of ECOWAS passport which could assist you to travel around West African Countries. It is most convenient to acquire because you can get in within a few hours. You don’t have to wait for the standard Nigerian Passport which may take a minimum of three weeks for renewal and six weeks for a new one,” he said.

The theme for the programme is, “Driving Investment Through Safe Migration Corridors.”