The federal government is to rehabilitate the forward operating bases (FOBs) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure effective border management.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said this on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of 105 officers trained in the application and use of the installed e-solution at the national borders.

Mr Tunji-Ojo praised the Kemi Nandap-led NIS for its innovative approaches to border management and migration governance.

Nigeria shares its 4,047km border with the Benin Republic 773km; Cameroun 1,690km; Chad 87Km; Niger 1,497km; and the Gulf of Guinea 853 km.

The minister said, “As you go out, let us protect our borders – all the 4,047km. Our border is very peculiar. Nigeria is both a Sahel state and a state in the Gulf of Guinea. That is a unique geographical location, and you have to understand that.

“In the Sahel, you understand the situation of the Sahel. Five of the top ten poorest countries in the world are in the Sahel,” said Mr Tunji-Ojo.

The minister explained that climate change issues within the Sahel and the proximity to wealth and opportunities within the Gulf of Guinea also affect irregular migration.

“We are constantly working on your FOBs because we know that a couple of, I mean, almost all the FOBs are nothing to write home about. We are working on that and I am sure in the next couple of months you will start seeing the FOBs,” he said.

The minister said the government was working on many other things, assuring that the officers and men would be well-equipped to face the challenges.

He said, “We have done our analysis. We know what you need, and I assure you, we will stand by you. We want to charge you. The security of this country depends on your professionalism.

“This president came and gave you a condition of service like never before because the president believes that a happy workforce should be an efficient workforce, and that is why today, your promotion is regular.

The minister charged the officers on hard work and diligence, saying, “The president increased your salary and increased your allowances.

”The least we can do is to pay him back by being diligent, by being efficient and being the symbol of what Nigeria is about. Nigeria is about resilience.”

In her remarks, Ms Nandap said the 105 officers were drawn from 28 border formations, and the training was to develop competencies in deploying and handling the e-border solution.

She added that aside from investing in technology, the NIS management also invested in human capital development.

The NIS CG further spoke on the gains derivable from the training and said it would afford the service the opportunity for better surveillance.

She said this included data capturing and management as well as collaboration with other regional and international stakeholders.

(NAN)