…promises inclusion of Oron, Ibaka control posts on e-Border project
The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Jere Idris has called for the enhanced funding and deployment of ICT solutions in Border security in the country.
Promising to include the Control Posts of Oron and Ibaka in the eBorder project of the Service the Acting CG said the two locations would be connected to the Command and Control Centre at the Service Headquarters real time and online, for effective surveillance and monitoring of all movements and activities in the areas.
Jere Idris who made these known during a working visit to the Service’s Blue Border Formations in Oron and Ibaka areas of Akwa Ibom State, affirmed that there is need for some deliberate actions to improve the current security architecture across the nation’s Blue Borders.
He opined that the deployment of the ICT solutions in Border security has become inevitable for the country and called for enhanced funding.
The acting Comptroller General maintained that the rising volume of migratory activities along the nation’s international waterways measuring over 853 kilometres requires that a closer attention is devoted to the sector for improved surveillance.
He noted that the waterways of Oron and Ibaka areas for instance, are accessible to countries such as Mali, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cameroun among others and so concerted efforts should be made to equip all tthe border control agencies along that corridor for improved security cover.
During the visit, the acting Comptroller General paid courtesy visits to the traditional institutions in the border communities to solicit their cooperation especially in area of information sharing to ensure effective border security.
At the palace of the paramount ruler of the Oron nation, His Royal Majesty Odiong Edet Akan, the acting Comptroller General stated, “We have come to realize that no security/military agency can achieve enduring peace and order anywhere in the country without the partnership of the traditional rulers and members of the local communities.”
Jere Idris who recalled that the traditional rulers had played great roles in the nation’s security arrangement during the pre and post-colonial eras, therefore called for a re-visit of the roles of traditional rulers in the nation’s security architecture.
In his welcome address, the paramount ruler of the Oron nation, stated that members of his communities have been and will continue to be very supportive to the Immigration Service even as he called for sustenance of the existing relationship.
The acting Comptroller General later proceeded to Ibaka Control Post where he inspected the operational areas and a Jetty under construction.
He harped that when completed, the jetty will impact positively on operational activities at the Control post.
