Nigeria Immigration Services Inaugurates Integrated Border Management Standing Committee.
The Nigeria Immigration Service, in Abuja, on Thursday, inaugurated an Integrated Standing Committee on Boarder Management and Control(IBMSC) at a meeting of the stakeholders Top Management forum on inter- agency cooperation.
This was done in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of trafficking in persons(NAPTIP) with support of International Organization for Migration (IOM) within the framework of the National 10th European Union Development Fund (EDF) project "Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria"
The Comptroller-General, in his inaugural speech expresses appreciation for the successful implementation of the project. He said that the IBMSC will mandate on issues affecting the borders such as border security, trafficking in persons, smuggling on migrants and free movement of persons within and across the Nigerian border.
He counseled members of the standing committee to be devoted to the ideals, goals and objectives of the committee in the overall interest of the National good.
Mr Henry Kwenin, representative of the Chief of Mission, IOM in his welcome remark said that IOM had supported the Nigerian Government to develop several initiatives to effectively manage migration in a more efficient and coherent manner through the provision of policy frameworks and initiatives such as the National Migration Policy. The IBMSC creation is in line with the implementation of the National Migration Policy Action plan, which is to serve as a platform for constructive dialogue, collaboration and effective coordination of migratory activities in Nigeria.
To the inaugurated committee, he said, " I would therefore like to implore border management agencies in Nigeria who are members of this committee, to compare their specific mandates and polices to ensure that they are compatible and not in competition with one another"
The standing committee would enable the Nigerian Government to efficiently and collectively address challenges of cross border movements.