…as stakeholders, partners pledged continued collaboration, improved NIS facilities
The Lagos State Government has applauded the efforts of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS for keeping a positive image of the country with its activities of controlling entry and exit of people, issuance of passport and resident permit.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu who gave the commendation during the 60th anniversary of the NIS Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Command Lagos said, the service had ensured the airport had not become hub for criminal activities being the busiest in the country.
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said, the Nigeria Immigration Service had come a long way in carrying out the responsibility of immigration management in Nigeria and had witnessed many changes since it was extracted from the Nigeria Police Force in 1958.
On the theme of its 60th anniversary, ‘Inter-Agency Collaboration to Enhance Seamless Migration’, Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the state government, Barr. Abimbola Salu-hundeyin said, the theme is apt and speaks to the fact that great results are achieved when people and institutions work together rather than in silo’s.
He urged NIS officers to maintain vigilance and carry out their duties with a high sense of patriotism to attract foreign investors to the state.
“The NIS is very crucial in the portrayal of Nigeria warmth and hospitality, i congratulate the Acting Comptroller General, Comptroller MMIA and NIS officers who are working tirelessly to continuously provide reliable and efficient service to all Nigerians and other nationals that visit our country because that is the first port of call”.
Emphasizing on Inter-Agency Collaboration, the Regional Manager, South West Airports and Airport Manager, MMIA, Lagos, Mr. Sunday Ayodele said, recently with the help of security agencies at the airport, 21 suspected criminals including cable thieves were arrested.
“In the last two weeks, we have been able to arrest vandals who have been carting away our cables it is as a result of the collaboration with all our sister agencies and a very strong signal has already been sent to all the vandals that MMIA is not a safe haven for them”.
The NIS Comptroller, Lagos airport command, Mrs Adeola Adesokan in her address of welcome said, the service had evolved especially in embracing technology and innovation which had led to the introduction of machine readable passports and E-passport.
According to Mrs Adesokan, this had improved business opportunities, attracted foreign direct investment and enhanced tourism without compromising national security.
“Nigeria Immigration Service as we speak today is training officers through the command and control center whereby we can begin to use the unmanned area vehicles to manage and monitor all the borders, we cannot do it without inter-agency collaboration”.
Highlights of the celebration were assurances from stakeholders and partners to strengthen collaboration, improve on the facilities of the NIS at the airport and the cutting of the anniversary cakes.
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