the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to tackle insecurity occasioned by irregular migration and increasing transnational activities across the international borders of Nigeria.
The Ministry of Interior Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this in Lagos while delivering a speech at the third edition of the International Security Management Course in Lagos.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Press, Afonja Ajibola, on Wednesday, Belgore said the FG, through the Nigerian Immigration Service, had devised new ways to improve border control, management, monitoring and protection, adding that such innovations would help confront 21st century evolving challenges that continued to pose threat to Nigeria’s internal security.
He said, “The importance of border security cannot be overemphasised in view of the rate and significance of trans-national crimes. Indeed, this is of global significance due to globalisation and increasing travel.
“Accordingly, there has been an increase in transnational crimes from irregular migration to trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, financial crimes, drug related offences, transportation of illegal weapons amongst others.”
The Permanent Secretary, however, blamed what he called illicit movement of arms and persons as well as using borders as escape routes by criminal elements as reasons for heightened insecurity which he assured Nigerians that recent innovations currently undertaken would help to check crimes in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service.