The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has planned to celebrate 60 years anniversary of its existence on Aug. 1 and 2, with some lined up activities for the event.
The Kwara State Comptroller of NIS, Compt. Aminu Shamsuddin revealed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday.
The comptroller said that the Ag. Comptroller General of NIS, Mrs Caroline Adepoju, has directed all the states of the federation to celebrate the remarkable event.
Shamsuddin recalled that the NIS was formerly known as the Immigration Department, but later extracted from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in 1958.
“On 1st of August, 1963, the Immigration Department became an entity of its own, as it was formally established by an Act of Parliament, CAP 171, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and became Nigeria Immigration Service,” he said.
The comptroller noted that over the years, NIS experienced various positive reforms and significant achievements in some areas, but not limited to those areas.
“We have Travel Documents, that is, Passport, starting from the introduction of Machine Readable Passport (MRP) in 1998 to its replacement with electronic passport (e-passport) in May 2007.
“This electronic machine comes with capturing of biometrics, thus, making multiple acquisition and identity theft difficult.
“The e-passport has also upgraded to enhanced e-passport in 2020 which makes forging difficult.
“The ECOWAS Travel Certificate is another travel document issued by the Service, which usage only covers ECOWAS region.
“The introduction and issuance of Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) electronically to foreign expatriates who resides with us in Nigeria.
“Border Security and Surveillance, also known as the electronic border (e-border) has made border security and surveillance seamless,” comptroller explained.
Shamsuddin said that the Technology Building at the SHQ has digital imaging equipment that makes it possible to monitor all entries and exists at the borders in real time.
“This allows the NIS and other law enforcement agencies the capacity to totally secure the citizens and properties from external threat,” he said.
The comptroller further said that the installation of Migrants Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) at all recognised ports of entries has made easy for NIS to save and analyse data of all migrants passing in and out of the country.
He added that the introduction of National Visa Policy (NVP) 2020 has enhanced the ease of doing business, boost tourism, addressed the current migration related challenges and expanded the opportunities regarding bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries.
Shamsuddin mentioned the fight against Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) which, he said, was a war being fought by NIS with the support of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with NAPTIP.
He said that the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria with international communities as related to the NIS was for the peace and security of the nation. (NAN)
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