The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) turned back 332 migrants at the Seme Border because they could not present valid travel documents. This information was disclosed by Comptroller General of Immigration Kemi Nandap during a stakeholder sensitisation event in Abuja titled “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response.” The gathering focused on the changing dynamics of migrant smuggling and highlighted the Service’s efforts to combat irregular migration.
Nandap explained that the NIS has strengthened its legal and institutional frameworks and expanded training programmes for officers to enhance their capacity to detect and prevent smuggling activities. Recently, border patrol officers at Seme denied entry to the 332 migrants lacking proper documents. In addition, 294 Nigerians suspected of attempting irregular migration under the so‑called “Japa Syndrome” were stopped from leaving the country.
The NIS also reported rescuing 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour at the border, attributing these successes to the installation of new CCTV cameras at strategic locations. Nandap emphasised the importance of collaboration with international partners—including the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and INTERPOL—to share intelligence and conduct joint operations.
According to Nandap, the fight against migrant smuggling is both a security imperative and a moral responsibility, as each smuggled migrant represents a life at risk and a disrupted family. He urged government agencies, international organisations, civil society and the private sector to sustain their collaborative efforts, stressing that no single institution can tackle smuggling alone. The success of these initiatives depends on a unified national front guided by protection, accountability and human dignity.
By working together, Nigeria can move toward a future where safe and regular migration becomes the norm. The NIS’s actions and the stakeholder event reflect ongoing efforts to address the complex issue of migrant smuggling in a country whose 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 measures will reduce the risks of irregular migration and promote safer, more regulated pathways for those seeking to move across borders.
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