NIS Uses Technology to Combat Irregular Migration

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has bolstered its border security by deploying advanced technology and enhancing surveillance to curb irregular migration and migrant smuggling across the country’s borders.

Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Mr Akinsola Akinlabi revealed the initiative in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Akinlabi said the NIS has achieved significant results in detecting and preventing illegal movement of persons through the nation’s land borders, attributing the successes to sustained border patrol operations and surveillance mechanisms.

He noted that border officers have consistently intercepted irregular migrants attempting to leave or enter the country through unauthorized routes.

“Most of the time, when people embark on irregular migration journeys, our officers stationed along the borders are able to intercept them and, in many cases, reunite them with their families,” he said. “A lot has been recorded in this area, and these efforts have significantly reduced the number of people using land routes to leave the country irregularly.”

The NIS spokesman explained that the service’s border surveillance architecture was designed to monitor difficult and remote terrains that may be inaccessible to personnel. The infrastructure has enabled the service to identify routes frequently used for irregular migration and strategically deploy assets to such locations.

He added that the service’s mandate focuses on border security and the prevention of migrant smuggling, with surveillance activities covering both inbound and outbound movements. Irregular migrants attempting to enter Nigeria through illegal routes are often intercepted by border officers and returned to their countries of origin or the locations from which they originated.

Addressing the challenges confronting border management, Akinlabi said irregular migration remains a complex societal issue that requires collective action beyond enforcement measures. While no border management agency in the world operates without challenges, the federal government has continued to support the NIS through the provision of critical operational tools and resources.

He identified one major obstacle as the failure of many people to fully appreciate the risks and consequences associated with irregular migration. “We see irregular migration as a societal problem because many people do not understand the dangers associated with it,” he said. “When the NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, was appointed, she promised to develop policies that would prevent illegal migration, safeguard the lives of Nigerians and foster positive bilateral relations. That is why the service under her leadership is investing heavily in public enlightenment campaigns, stakeholder engagements and the issuance of advisories to discourage people from embarking on such journeys.”

On long‑term strategies aimed at sustainably reducing irregular migration, Akinlabi identified technology as a key component of the service’s approach. He said that while physical border patrols remain essential, technological solutions have become a game‑changer in border management. “Technology enables us to monitor terrains and locations that may not be easily accessible to personnel. With technological support, areas that are difficult to physically monitor can now be observed effectively, helping us detect and prevent irregular migration activities,” he said.

The NIS spokesman further disclosed that, with the support of the Ministry of Interior, the service had completed the first phase of its e‑Border Solution project and was preparing to commence the second phase. He said the next phase would complement existing infrastructure and further strengthen border surveillance capabilities across the country.

Akinlabi commended the federal government for its continued support, saying the administration of President Bola Tinubu has remained committed to strengthening border security under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He also credited the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo, for consistently backing the service in its efforts to fulfill its mandate.

“The support we have continued to receive from the minister and his supervision has been instrumental to all our activities and implementation of our reforms. The minister strongly believes in the NIS and remains committed to ensuring that the service continues to effectively deliver on its mandate and provide leadership in migration management and border security. The government is also fully in support of what we are doing, and the President Tinubu‑led administration has continued to provide the needed support to enhance our operations and secure the nation’s borders,” he said. (NAN)

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