Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is to connect 84 locations of Nigeria’s borders with e-border monitoring cameras to arrest the issues of illegal immigrants and other border crimes.
The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Alhaji Isah Idris, said this during his visit to Oron and Mbo Control Posts on Wednesday.
According to him, the Federal Government has already signed an agreement with a Chinese Company for the installation of surveillance cameras across the locations.
Idris explained that when the operations commenced, monitoring of borders across the country would be real-time online, using the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system.
The acting comptroller general added that protection of our border against illegal immigrants and other criminal activities required the support of all Nigerians.
He said with the installation of these cameras across the locations monitoring of the borders will be done with ease.
“The Federal Government signed the e-border agreement with a Chinese Company to supply cameras in about 84 locations of our borders because that is the next level we are going.
“To use ICT as a tool to be able to monitor our borders, because our borders are massive. So, it is only with ICT we can be able to monitor our borders effectively.
“Of course, ICT requires money and we are going to be all-time online. The President as equally approved the construction of our data communications centre in Abuja. It is a pilot product where we can view Illela in Sokoto live, what is happening there.
“If they have connected Ibaka to our communications centre, you can see what we are doing here, real-time online. That’s what the Government is doing.
“So, the government is doing well and it requires the support of the communities. Support of the Nigerians to achieve complete security of the nation. I assure you by the second quarter of this year the implementation will start,” Idris said.
Idris said that he would ensure passport reform and border management to check illegal immigrants into the country.
Our correspondent reports that the acting comptroller general was received at Ibaka Immigration Post by Mr Godwin Okoro, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) in charge of the control post.
Okoro called on the government to provide the post with Barracks for officers and men working at the control post, patrol boats to patrol the marine line, and vehicles to run official activities.
At Oron Control Post, Idris was received by ACI Philip Inaya, who called for the provision of High Calibre Arms and Ammunition (Anti-Aircraft AA52) to be mounted on the gunboat to combat the numerous security challenges in the area.
Inaya appealed to the acting comptroller general to provide the post with a utility vehicle for effective monitoring of the area.