In preparation for the 2023 general election, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) should tighten security around the country’s borders. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola during the inauguration ceremony of the Service’s Katsina state headquarters, adding that the primary duties of the Service are border control and migration management, not passport issuance.
He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that Nigerian borders should be made impenetrable to foreign bodies who might want to come in and manipulate the election process or engage in other nefarious activities.
“The order from President Muhammadu Buhari is that between now and the time we will conclude elections, you must make sure our borders are secured.
“You must make sure that our borders are perfectly secured from illegal immigrants who may want to come in to create problems during elections, or illegally participate in the elections.
“The Service should live up to the directives of Mr. President.”
He also stated that the government was improving the capacity of the NIS to efficiently monitor the country’s over 5,000 km border by deploying advanced technology to ensure 24/7 surveillance.