The Nigeria Immigration Service has deployed personnel to monitor unconventional routes that foreigners may potentially use to enter the country, in response to the situation in Niger Republic.
According to The PUNCH, the NIS Comptroller responsible for the Jibia command in Katsina State, Mr. Mustapha Sani, announced this during a joint celebration with the state’s command to mark the 60th anniversary of the service.
He stated that the borders have been closed and there are movement restrictions in place due to the current situation.
He advised Nigerians intending to travel to Niger to remain at home for their safety. He emphasised that only Nigerians returning to their home country were permitted to cross the border.
“NIS has deployed its personnel to mount all the unorthodox roads through which some of the foreigners may likely infiltrate the country.
“You know Katsina and the Niger Republic. We are a homogeneous society, with the same language, religion and culture, but we have a colonial boundary which we must respect.”
Speaking to the officers and members of the command, Sani claimed that modern immigration had replaced the previous service and that Nigerian passports were now among the best in the world.
Due to its biometric and personalised nature, he claimed that the Nigerian passport was well safeguarded and had numerous security features that rendered it impossible to forge.
“There’s no way one can use your passport because God has created us unique, especially with our fingerprints.
“Katsina State is among the only two states in the country with special border Command.
“As it is now, we are trying to have an E-border. Just recently, our ICT officers came to the command for a survey, so that they can install some of the gadgets.
“With this development, whatever we do, can be viewed from the headquarters,” the Comptroller said.
In light of the fact that the service was changing, he recommended them to be computer literate, adding, “If you are not computer literate, that means you may not have a place in the service.”
