By Iroyin Yoruba Television
ABUJA, Nigeria — October 23, 2026
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has called for stronger cooperation among government agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, the media and international partners to address irregular migration and protect Nigerians from trafficking and migrant-smuggling networks.
Nandap made the appeal on Wednesday, October 21, during a stakeholder sensitisation and engagement seminar at the Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja. The meeting focused on closing information gaps and promoting safe, informed and lawful migration.
Speaking through the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of the Visa and Residency Directorate, Franca Nwanneka, the immigration chief said effective border management required more than advanced technology and enforcement measures.
She argued that prospective migrants needed accurate, timely and reliable information to make informed decisions about travel, employment, education and other opportunities abroad.
The appeal comes as Nigeria continues to strengthen its border management systems and efforts to address irregular migration. Although people migrate for legitimate reasons, including education, work, family reunification and personal safety, a lack of reliable information can expose them to exploitation and criminal networks.
Nandap warned that decisions based on misinformation, false promises or limited knowledge of lawful migration procedures could have serious consequences. Prospective migrants may become vulnerable to fraudulent recruitment agents, trafficking networks and smugglers who promise opportunities that do not exist or conceal the risks involved.
She urged relevant institutions to move beyond discussions and adopt coordinated practical measures that would make accurate migration information accessible to communities, particularly those most vulnerable to exploitation.
The call covers government ministries, security and law-enforcement agencies, development partners, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, educational institutions and transport operators. The media also has a role in explaining lawful migration routes and helping the public identify misleading claims.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) participated in the engagement. Its Senior Programme Associate in Nigeria, Nnenna Onuoha, represented the organisation’s Chief of Mission, Sharon Dimanche, and highlighted the growing cooperation between the IOM and the Immigration Service.
Nandap said the NIS was strengthening its capacity through institutional reforms, modern border technologies, intelligence gathering and improvements in service delivery.
One of the developments highlighted was the deployment of a Border Control and Immigration Management System. The service has also been working to integrate migration records and improve information-sharing across its operations.
The integration of migration records is intended to support more effective border administration and help officials identify relevant travel information. Technology-assisted analysis can also help authorities flag suspicious patterns for further examination, although its effectiveness depends on accurate data, appropriate safeguards and trained personnel.
The immigration chief’s remarks underline the importance of combining enforcement with public education. Border controls may help detect unlawful activity, but they cannot independently address all the circumstances that lead people to seek irregular routes.
Economic pressures, limited access to reliable information and the activities of dishonest intermediaries can influence migration decisions. Public awareness initiatives can help prospective travellers understand visa conditions, recruitment procedures and the risks associated with unauthorised routes.
For Nigerians considering opportunities abroad, the message is to verify the legitimacy of employers, recruitment agencies and immigration advisers before making payments or surrendering travel documents. Applicants should also consult official immigration authorities in their destination countries to understand the applicable visa requirements.
Community leaders and educational institutions can help spread reliable information, while government agencies and international partners can support efforts to identify and disrupt criminal networks that exploit migrants.
The seminar also highlighted the need for continued collaboration between the Immigration Service and the IOM. Both organisations have worked on migration management and information initiatives, with the aim of improving awareness and supporting safer migration decisions.
Nandap’s appeal places public information alongside technology and border enforcement as part of Nigeria’s wider migration-management strategy. The next challenge will be translating the commitments discussed at the seminar into sustained outreach, coordinated action and measurable protection for people at risk.
The Immigration Service has called on stakeholders to work together so that Nigerians can pursue legitimate opportunities abroad without being misled into dangerous or unlawful arrangements. The effectiveness of the approach will depend on how widely reliable information reaches communities and how consistently institutions act on the recommendations.