By Yahaya Isah

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to improve surveillance and border control ahead of the upcoming general election.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr. Sola Fasure, Media Adviser to the Minister of the Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Aregbesola conveyed the president’s directive by inaugurating the Katsina State NIS command office and launching the enhanced ePassport in the state.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered Nigeria’s borders to be impenetrable to foreign bodies who want to enter and manipulate the electoral process or engage in other nefarious activities.

“The President’s order is that from now until we conclude all the elections, please make our borders impregnable. They must remain impregnable, even after the elections.

“We do not want a situation where those who are not qualified to vote in Nigeria come to our nation to illegally participate in the process,” Aregbesola added.

The minister reiterated that the main assignment of the service was border control and not the issuance of passports.

However, the minister said that migration management was another main responsibility of the service, as such, they must ensure that migrants are effectively regulated and documented, as the issuance of passports is free.

He assured that the nation’s borders will soon be covered with the latest surveillance technology.

“We are deploying electronic digital technology to ensure 24/7 surveillance, inch by inch, of the 4,500 km of border from the east to the west, including the coasts.

“This is one of several achievements of the president’s administration.”

He added that Katsina has 14 border posts along 400 kilometers of border manned by immigration personnel, and assured that the government was confident in protecting the border posts.

In his remarks, Governor Aminu Masari, represented by Katsina State Secretary of Government Alhaji Muntari Lawal, praised the NIS for helping to curb the threat of insecurity in the state.

The governor also praised the Ministry of Interior for successfully establishing a state command of the immigration service in Katsina. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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