By Palma Ileye
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to tackle insecurity occasioned by irregular migration and increasing transnational activities across the international borders of Nigeria.
Belgore disclosed this in Lagos while delivering a speech at the 3rd edition of the International Security Management Course that took place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, where he was a special guest of honour.
In a Press release issued by the Deputy Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Afonja Fatai Ajibola, the Permanent Secretary said the Ministry of Interior through the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, has evolved new ways to improve border control, border management, border monitoring and border protection, adding that such innovations would help confront 21st century evolving challenges that continue to pose threat to Nigeria’s internal security.
“The importance of border security cannot be overemphasized in view of the rate and significance of trans-national crimes. Indeed, this is of global significance due to globalization and increasing travel. Accordingly, there has been an increase in transnational crimes from irregular migration to trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, financial crimes, drug related offences, transportation of illegal weapons amongst others, “Belgore said.
He blamed what he called illicit movement of arms and persons as well as using borders as escape routes by criminal elements as reasons for hightened insecurity which he assured Nigerians that recent innovations currently undertaken would help to checkmate crimes in collaboration with Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.
He traced the lingering border induced criminalities to situation where many African states share people with the same ancestry, separated into different countries thereby aiding irregular migration by some elements who hide under the guise to export crimes.
The highlight of the event witnessed presentation of a plaque to Dr. Belgore as a worthy special guest of honour which is expected to spur more energy to serve the nation.
The course provided participants the opportunity to scrutinize the security challenges associated with cross-border mobility in Africa and within our sub region due to the ECOWAS Protocol which confers certain rights to all citizens of ECOWAS member States, and also analyses cultural and geographic landscape of the borders.
