Immigration and NIMASA will sign a blue border security agreement.

The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS has drafted a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA as part of new measures to improve blue border security.

The announcement was made by Isah Jere Idris, Comptroller General of Immigration Service, at the NIS 2022 end-of-year dinner and award night held at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.

“In terms of border security, I convened a meeting and led the NIS delegation in engaging NIMASA on improved blue border security.

“I am pleased to inform you that a draft MOU to that effect has been completed. We have also advanced NIS and FRONTEX’s collaboration on border security and migration management.

“About a week ago, the Service graduated its first set of 61 special female armed squads from our training school in Ahoada, Rivers State to join in patrolling the nation’s borders. Within the constraints of our resources, we will continue to do our best in this regard.

“I would also like to mention that I led the Nigerian delegation to the 29th International Civil Aviation Organization Public Key Directory (ICAO-PKD) meeting in Uganda just last month, and Nigeria was elected for the fourth time to its Board of 15 countries out of 88 member countries in recognition of the vital role Nigeria has been playing on the global stage of electronic Travel Documents,” he added.

The CGIS also promised Nigerians returning home who needed to renew their travel documents that the process would be completed in 14 days.

“Let me state right now that we have completely transformed the process of passport application and issuance. This was made possible by the implementation of a queuing system, which allows passport applicants to choose an interview date as soon as they pay for their application on the application portal.

“This is helping management to regulate the passport process while also allowing passport applicants to get an appointment date at their convenience. We hope that in the near future, all of our issuing centers, both locally and in the diaspora, will be fully migrated to the enhanced e-Passport regime. Concerning Nigerians in Diaspora, we have established fast-track mechanisms in all Passport Offices to ensure that, barring any technical difficulties, they receive their Passports within 14 days during the holiday season. So far, the outcomes have been equally encouraging.

“As we mark this day, we will not forget to begin by celebrating all of our officers and men daily risking their lives patrolling our borders. Our troops are taking part in joint operations in the North East and elsewhere in the country. Unfortunately, we lost some of them this year, and as a mark of respect and honor, as well as recognition of their efforts, please join me on your feet for a minute of silence,” he added.