By Andrew Ajijah, Jos
Authorities of the Nigerian Immigration Service has assured Nigerians and authorities of of the University of Jos of adequate digital security protection.
Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Deputy Controller General, Isa Idris Jere made the pledge when authorities of the University of Jos visited the headquarters of the NIS.
Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications of the University
Abdullahi Abdullahi, made the decision of the NIS public through a press release issued in Jos and obtained by this medium on Tuesday.
“The Service is to collaborate with Nigerian universities towards developing homegrown creative solutions that would address challenges posed by border insecurity and ineffective migration management.”
The press statement by the University of Jos information unit reads.
“The Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Deputy Controller General, Isa Idris Jere says the deployment of digital technology and high-tech devices is the answer to the effective policing of Nigeria’s borders towards guaranteeing national security and economic prosperity.
“The Acting Controller-General has therefore expressed the desire of the Service to collaborate with Nigerian Universities towards developing homegrown creative solutions that would address challenges posed by border insecurity and ineffective migration management.
“DIG Jere was speaking when he received management of the University of Jos led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya in his office at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.
“He explained that the organization’s core function is to properly maintain the Country’s Five Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand (5330) kilometer border which it shares with the Atlantic Coast, Benin Republic, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. According to the him, Nigeria’s borders stretch through an expanse of land and sea that were too wide to be policed only by human Personnel hence the need to also rely on technology like is done elsewhere in the world.
“The Acting Controller-General disclosed that currently, the Service deploys modern technology in many of its operations including Passport Application and Issuance as well as records and document management through an Electronic Documents Management System (EDMS) which is a paperless mode of treating official files and documents.
“DIG Jere said NIS harvests a lot of data through its operations and therefore requires an efficient electronic platform for sharing such data with other sister agencies. He thanked the University of Jos Management team for the visit and sought partnership with the University towards helping the Service achieve some of its aims and objectives.Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya congratulated the NIS Acting Controller-General, Idris Isa Jere over his appointment and commended him for leading the charge towards making the Service an ICT friendly organization.
“The Vice-Chancellor who is a Professor of Computer Science, noted the great progress that the NIS is making towards discharging its mandate but observed that there were still some challenges that must be overcome to achieve the desired level of efficiency.
Professor Tanko called for closer collaboration between the NIS and the Country’s citadels of learning to enable the Service utilize the knowledge and expertise that are reposited in the Nigerian University system. He believes that sharing the knowledge, ideas and products of experts and researchers in the field would serve the Country better and help the NIS achieve its Vision and Mission.”
