By Najem Francis, Sokoto
Worried about the illegal and dangerous trips across the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea by young and able-bodied Nigerians in a bid to make it to Europe, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to intensity efforts to check the trend which has claimed many lives.
The governor also asked the service to increase vigilance around border areas to check influx of illegal migrants into the country especially through Sokoto and neighbouring states.
Tambuwal spoke when he received the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Baban Dede, at the Sokoto Government House.
“Let me first of all commend you and your men for the good job you are doing, especially in Sokoto and neighbouring states of Zamfara and Kebbi. Reports reaching us indicate that vast majority of your officers are carrying out their duties in professional manner”, the governor observed.
“Now that you are here, I want to appeal to the Service to streamline the number of multiple checkpoints mounted on various roads within the border areas in the state.
“Even though we are aware that such checkpoints were put in place to control influx of illegal migrants into the country, local road users have complained of harassment by your men at such checkpoints. Please look into these complaints and help in addressing them,” he added.
Tambuwal said the state government would support the community border patrols introduced by the Service, adding that the initiative would go a long way in addressing security challenges in the country.
In his remarks, the immigration boss said that he and his team were in Sokoto to register their appreciation to the governor for allocating 40 hectares of land to the Sokoto state command of NIS, as well as the Immigration Staff College situated in Sokoto.
He said the Service under his command has introduced various initiatives aimed at improving the security of all Nigerians.
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