The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has identified the effective Implementation of the Economic Community of the West African States, ECOWAS protocol, to assist in the fight against banditry.
The Comptroller General of the service, Muhammed Babandede, who said this during his interaction with critical stakeholders in the security sector said that the service will also make effective use of the traditional institution.
Katsina was selected to spearhead the commencement of the implementation of the ECOWAS protocol, due to its vast land borders.
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To achieve this, the Nigeria Immigration Service is engaging the traditional institution, to help in its effective implementation, especially at the border communities of Libya and Kongolam in Daura.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, while interacting with both the Emirs of Katsina Abdulmumin Usman and that of Daura, Umar Farouk, said they are working on the reduction of the protocol from the initial 90 days to 30.
With this, the influx of illegal migrants will be monitored and reported, since they are the custodians of the people, and know every single visitor to their domain.
Responding both Emirs stated their commitments towards assisting the service achieve the aim, although they also blamed the locals for availing the bandits with much information.
They, however, promised to collaborate with the Immigration, to end, the trend, by effectively controlling their domain, especially the influx of people, as regards the protocol.
Other members of the border communities visited, also reiterated their commitment, towards availing the service of more information, about visitors to their areas.
The Nigeria Immigration Service affirmed, that whoever crosses over to Nigeria and spends 90 days, should register, or face the full wrath of the Immigration act.
Edited by Tunde Orebiyi
