Border Governance: NIS, IOM Strengthen Collaboration

Border Governance: NIS, IOM Strengthen Collaboration

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) as part of its efforts at enhancing border management, has reinforced its collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The collaboration aims to strengthen institutional cooperation for effective migration management and border governance in Nigeria.

At a meeting, held in Lagos, themed “Strengthening Strategic Collaboration for Effective Migration Management and Border Governance.” NIS Zonal Coordinator, ACG Echefulam Anugwa, hailed the partnership as a model for government–international organisation collaboration, commending IOM for its continued support.

Goodwill messages from donor agencies, including the British High Commission, German Consulate, and Dutch Consulate highlighted the importance of leveraging the partnership for improved border governance.

In her keynote address, NIS Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap noted that the engagement offered a strategic opportunity to review NIS–IOM cooperation and chart a roadmap for deeper collaboration towards modernized, technology-driven border management.

She acknowledged IOM’s contribution to institutional reforms, operational capacity enhancement, and policy development, including the National Border Management Strategy.

IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, Dimanche Sharon, on his part, commended NIS for its visionary leadership, citing its regional reference status in digital border governance through systems such as MIDAS, e-Border solutions, and enhanced identity management.

He emphasized that the engagement would help identify operational gaps, capacity needs, and areas for impactful interventions in the next phase of NIS–IOM partnership.

The two-day engagement includes high-level presentations and technical sessions, aimed at producing actionable recommendations and a joint roadmap to guide future NIS–IOM collaborations.

The initiative is expected to bolster Nigeria’s leadership in migration management and border governance in West and Central Africa.

During the engagement the two organisations, NIS and IOM issued a communique identifying their key priority areas.

The actionable deliveries on the key priority areas include: Policy & Legislation; Institutional & Capacity Development; Infrastructure Development & Equipment; Migration Management; Border Governance and Legal Identity Solution

Border Governance: NIS, IOM Strengthen Collaboration