Nigerian immigration Service is
charged with the responsibilities of aliens control and border patrol
management; and the issuance of all Nigerian travel documents among others.
Modern technologies like the e-passport has made it possible for them to be
able to fight against trans-border criminality as the e-passport contains the
biometric details of holders, thus making it easy for detection of persons
travelling under false identities or compromised travel documents. According to
reports, they equally have a well-equipped forensic laboratory for the
examination of travel documents and monetary instruments.
Despite all these, our borders
have become so porous that people enter and go out of the country without any
form of restriction. Border security is
very important in boosting the image of any country and it helps to protect the
residents of a defined territory. The rate of criminal activities has become so
high including border trespassing. Many aliens
come through illegal routes (be it land, sea or air), while others bribe their
way across the borders. This could be a contributory factor to incessant
killings in Nigeria.
Instead of being protective of
Nigerian boundaries, Nigeria Immigration Service has made itself a cesspool of
corruption, nepotism, and primordial sentiments. Before the introduction of
e-passport, the rate at which the members of staff forge passport is very
alarming. Then it was very easy for an individual to have multiple passports
bearing different names, and also very easy for non-Nigerians to get the
country’s green passport. Thanks to the e-passport which has reduced these
fraudulent practices, though has not eliminated it. To express their
appreciation following the introduction of e-passport system, NIS has made it
so impossible to get it. It takes weeks and months to get, except for the
person who is ready to rob fingers.
Their corruption did not stop
there, as applicants are made to illegally pay thousands of Naira to a
syndicate in exchange for limited job vacancies. Nigerian Immigration staff are
busy entertaining their greedy self while Nigerian borders have become so
porous which have led to the influx of illegal immigrants into the country, not
to talk of Nigerians who leave the borders of the country to other countries
illegally.
Why should we allow Foreigners to
enter the country as they please and do whatever they like without making them
go through rigorous procedures and questioning to ascertain who they are, where
they came from, what they have come to do and when they are leaving, and
monitor same? The citizens of this country also leave the borders of Nigeria
without notice, yet, we have immigration service in place.
Nigeria is old enough to secure
its borders and have some privacy. Entry into the country and exit out of the
country should be properly regulated to protect Nigerian citizens from
intruders and also stop most Nigerians from exiting the country just to go and
die or become slaves to others in foreign lands like Libya, Europe, etc. The
Federal Government should address the issues that revolve around immigration,
as it could be a step to addressing the insecurity situation in the country.
More hands should be employed for NIS to do their jobs well. If they are not
well paid, then government should make sure this is addressed; they should be provided
with the necessary assistance that will enable them tighten the security across
our borders and stop the leakages.
Written
by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi
Powered
by Samweld Nditah
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