The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has turned back 332 migrants at the Seme Border due to their inability to present valid travel documents. This revelation was made by the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, during a stakeholders’ sensitisation event in Abuja focused on evolving patterns in migrant smuggling. The event, titled “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response,” highlighted the Service’s efforts to combat irregular migration.
According to Nandap, the NIS has enhanced its legal and institutional frameworks and expanded training programs for its officers to improve their capacity to detect and prevent migrant smuggling activities. Recently, border patrol officers at Seme denied entry to 332 migrants lacking valid travel documents. Additionally, 294 Nigerians suspected of attempting irregular migration under the ‘Japa Syndrome’ were stopped from leaving the country.
The NIS also reported rescuing 36 victims of human trafficking and child labor at the border, attributing these successes to the installation of new CCTV cameras at strategic locations. Nandap emphasized the importance of collaboration between the NIS and international partners, including the African Union, Economic Community of West African States, European Union, International Organization for Migration, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and INTERPOL, to share intelligence and conduct joint operations.
The fight against migrant smuggling is not only a security imperative but also a moral responsibility, as every smuggled migrant represents a life at risk and a disrupted family. Nandap urged government agencies, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to sustain their collaborative efforts, stressing that no single institution can tackle migrant smuggling alone. The success of these efforts depends on a unified national front guided by protection, accountability, and human dignity. By working together, it is possible to build a Nigeria where safe and regular migration becomes the norm.
The NIS’s actions and the stakeholders’ event reflect the ongoing efforts to address the complex issue of migrant smuggling in Nigeria. The country’s strategic location and economic significance make it a crucial player in regional and international migration dynamics. As the NIS continues to strengthen its capacities and collaborate with partners, the hope is that these efforts will contribute to reducing the risks associated with irregular migration and promoting safer, more regulated migration pathways for those seeking to move across borders.