By Omobolanle Shosanya
The Nigeria Immigration Service says it has confiscated about 6,216 National Identity, Voters and sundry other cards from illegal migrants as the service intensify surveillance on Nigerian boarders ahead of the 2023 general election.
According to the figures released by Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Isa Jere Idris, Kebbi State alone accounted for 40% of the seizures with a haul of 1,331 Nigerian National Identity Cards and 1,356 Voters cards impounded from illegal migrants from neighbouring countries.
Other states with sizeable foreign migrant incursions include Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara,Sokoto, Niger, Katsina and Ogun State border areas.
Speaking at a one-day election retreat in A uja on Wednesday,he said the service has had adequate training and preparation for the election and charged to display professionalism in the discharge of there function during the polls.
He warned that state comptrollers would be held liable for any breach of electoral rules by personnel under their command.
He said:”All the Comptrollers shall be held liable for any lapses or partisanship involving personnel under their watch. You are hereby charged to re-orientate Officers and Men to exhibit high sense of professionalism to complement the current positive public perceptions of the Service as a result of our ongoing reforms”.
He explained that the signing into law of the 2022 Electoral Act places a burden on all stakeholders including INEC,security agencies, political parties,local and international observers and the media.
He emphasized the need for all to work towards sustenance of the democratic practice. He commended extra effort by state commands who intercepted foreigners in possession of National ID cards and voters cards as well as ensure their removal from the country
“Let me thank all those who are putting in extra efforts to make the Service and by extension the Country proud in their various Formations. Special commendation to the Comptrollers of Kaduna and Kwara States, who recently were able to intercept non-Nigerians who were unlawfully in possession of voter’s cards and National Identity cards”.
“Looking back at the involvement and participation of the service in various training programmes arranged by INEC the CGIS said the service is ready to contribute its quota towards a successful poll come February 25.
“The NIS has been regularly attending Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organization by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in readiness for the 2023 general election.The NIS personnel have attended election security related courses such as;Election Monitoring/Observation Course at Jaji,Kaduna”.
