By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS)Muhammad Babandede, has said that the newly established e-border control project will strengthen operations of the service by enhancing security and sustainable cross border activities monitoring in the country.
Similarly, the NIS Boss with dispassionate focus to repositioning the service, warned officers against indulging in any form of corrupt activity at land borders or airport for the professional image of the service and country.
He said with the development, the e- border project would brace up to cover 84 mega, midi and mini border posts across Nigeria.
” The border posts would have inbuilt surveillance equipment which would be seen 5km around the borders.”
Babandede spoke in Sokoto at the official inauguration of the Sokoto Command befitting office of the service performed by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Accordingly, he explained that the posts would be equipped with the necessary logistics and modern sophistications that will support basic operations of personnel while at the borders.
This, he said would include patrol vehicles carrying equipment that can transmit activities online to National Headquarters.
” This is a great achievement to national security because we can be able to see what is happening at the borders through digital means and to inform other law enforcement agencies to react if the need comes around,” the Controller General said.
While disclosing that the pilot project had commenced with Illela border, Babandede also hinted that by next year , those of other locations across the country would be installed for full operations, adding ” it will be a huge investment that would strengthen the capacity of NIS for national security.”
In the same vein, he said his vision was to provide functional structures and realise his dream of expanding NIS commands by establishing additional 2 annually.
” Staff welfare and conducive working environment are key for efficient and effective delivery of service as well improve its revenue generation strategy for the country”
” I will like to assure all that the service under my leadership will continue to explore avenues for sustained commitment to repositioning its operations, promotion of welfare staff in the areas of beneficial housing scheme and other incentives”, he pledged.
He applauded President Muhammad Buhari for his support and cooperation to the service towards realizing its set objectives as a pillar towards securing the country while acknowledging the commendable strides of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Sokoto State Government for their continued support and assistance to the agency.
While inaugurating the office edifice within the command’s complex, Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, commended the Comptroller General for the laudable feat towards repositioning the service.
” Your foresight, vision and leadership qualities are product of a commendable and unequalled idea towards ensuring that the state commands work and operate from their complexes. Not only that but also providing the commands with conducive atmosphere of work. I heartily commend your vision ,” the governor remarked.
The governor who also expressed optimism that the service in no time, would attain the standards and compete favourably with others globally, noted that efficiency and productivity of its staff would have earned a place in the e-border era of operations.
” It is my singular and firm believe that with this structure, the productivity of staff will be enhancer and driver of increased revenue for the over all benefit of the country”,
He noted with passion the strategic transformation of the services by Babandede who he observed was making landmark achievement in the area of information and communication technology for the service thrive in line with the global best practices.
Tambuwal , however, thanked President Buhari for his support not only to Nigeria Immigration Service but to other paramilitaries and urged him to do more as their challenges are very many.
While thanking Babandede for selecting Illela as a strategic point for the as pilot base for the e-border control , the governor urged all citizens to put all hands on deck to assist the immigration service to carry out their critical role in providing peace and security at land borders.
