NIS to Launch Contactless Passport Solution in Europe on February 7

By: Michael Mike

Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Kemi Nandap has announced that NIS is set to launch the contactless passport application solution in Europe, with UK serving as the coordinating centre on February 7.

The Comptroller General made the announcement on Tuesday when she paid a courtesy call on Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa at NiDCOM headquarters in Abuja.

She said: “This initiative set for launch on 7th of February 2025 will enable Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes.”

Nandap reiterated that the innovative solution is designed to simplify the passport application process for Diaspora, save time, and reduce costs associated with travelling to apply for passport.

She, however, said that the initiative is not for fresh applicants or minors but for those renewing their passports.

She said Nigerians living abroad can start the process of renewing their passports a year to its expiration.

Nandap commended NIDCOM for being a dependable partner and ally in advocacy in giving awareness to its programmes and policies, especially as it affects Nigerians living abroad.

The Comptroller General said that President Bola Tinubu has given them the marching order to make life easier for Nigerians in the diaspora, saying the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has in the meantime approved a passport processing facility for New York, to address the backlog and bring experience there.

She added that passport front offices will soon be opened in other parts of the US and other countries.

Responding to the news, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the laudable initiative, which aligns with the Commission’s mandate to support and facilitate diaspora engagement.

“The launch of the contactless passport application solution in Europe is a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora. NiDCOM will continue to support, monitor and collaborate with the NIS to ensure the success of this initiative” she added.

She commended the Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Comptroller General for the innovations introduced, noting that the contactless application has since taken off in Canada with commendations from Nigerians in Canada.

NIS to Launch Contactless Passport Solution in Europe on February 7

NSCDC, Search for Common Ground Organise Capacity Building for Civil Defence Officers

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in conjunction with Search for Common Ground; a Nigerian International Non Governmental Organisation has organised a 5-Day Capacity Building Training on “Common Ground Approach and Early Warning and Early Response To Conflict” for officers of the NSCDC.

The training witnessed participants who are top management staff officers of the NSCDC at Sandralia Hotel in Abuja.

The training programme was organised to provide the participants and others with the tools, insights, and strategies necessary to navigate the pressing security challenges facing the country .

While declaring the conference open, the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi said the training is to enhance development and result -oriented outcome .

The NSCDC Boss said: “Discipline starts from training and retraining, we will continue to leverage on the regular training programs because we are also product of regular training programs which has helped us to evolve professionally and gives us much required impetus to always live up to expectation.”

Audi, in his address, traced the beginning of the present day insurgency years back and lamented that what started like a child’s play has now developed to full scale monsters such as kidnapping, banditry in the North and militancy in the South South.

He postulated that to strengthen the nation’s Security architecture there is need for improvement in the area of synergy among the security agencies, adding that the present collaboration has started to yield more positive results.

He said: “We can trace the genesis of the present day insurgency to sometime in 2007. When stated somewhere in a particular state has now spread to every corner of the country with various names as banditry and kidnapping in the North East, North West and North Central to Militancy and agitators in the South South and South East.

“One thing that is constant with the present reality is that no particular security agency can lay claim to holistic strategy on how to combat this insurgency.
This is time to improve on synergy among the security agencies in the country.

“Interestingly, the synergy among the security agencies are improving in recent time with the exhibition of 3 Cs; Collaboration, Coordination and Cooperation

The good working relationship is now conspicuous and we look forward to more favourable working relationship. “

In her welcome address the Country’ Director of Search for Common Ground, Fatimah Abubakar, who was represented by Director of Programme, Miss Gift Owonipa, lauded efforts and sacrifice of the NSCDC and other security agencies in the country adding that the workshop is being organized to strengthen operational responses to emerging contemporary security threats.

She said: “We will like to recognize the immense sacrifice that NSCDC makes on daily basis together with other security agencies in safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians especially the country’s infrastructure and salute your courage in the face of adversity.

“We have come to realize that the country has continue to grapple with myriad of conflict such as inter communal clashes , insurgency, banditry, militancy , cultism and other form of violence and conflict.

This training represents a significant step towards empowering the participants to imbibe an early warning early response system and is expected to foster a safer, more stable and peaceful Nigeria. ” She disclosed.

NSCDC, Search for Common Ground Organise Capacity Building for Civil Defence Officers

21 Boys in Search of Islamic Education Rescued from Human Traffickers at Nigeria/Niger Border

By: Michael Mike

Twenty-one boys have been saved from being trafficked under the disguise of Islamic education (Almajiri) across the border of the country into neighbouring Niger Republic.

They were rescued last weekend by immigration officers at the Geidam Border Control Post while their abductors were trying to transport them to Maine Saroua in Diffa Provinvce of Niger Republic.

The immigration officers subsequently handed them over to the National Agency Prohibition of Ttaffickixlng in Persons, (NAPTIP), who transferred them to Niger State Government.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Abuja, the Director General NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello, said the boys were trafficked from their homes in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State and were being trafficked to Maine Saroua in Diffa district of Niger Republic.

The DG who handed over the children to the Niger state governor, Usman Bago,
explained that the children and their traffickers were intercepted by men of the Nigeria Immigration Nigeria, (NIS), on patrol at the Nigeria/Niger border in Yobe state.

She said: “The information we got was that they were being taken to an Islamic school in Niger. I asked the commissioner a while ago, are there no Islamic schools in Niger State? And he affirmed that there are many, many Islamic schools in Niger State.

“So my advice to the government of Niger State, is that they should counsel the parents and these children, they should rehabilitate them and ensure that they register them in Islamic schools that also teach Western education so that they can benefit the two.”

On his part, the Niger governor said the state government will step up public enlightenment so that parent can understand better the damaging impact of handing over their children to individuals that are not trustworthy.

Represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Ahmed Yumu, the governor applauded the DG of NAPTIP for the effort at stopping human trafficking.

21 Boys in Search of Islamic Education Rescued from Human Traffickers at Nigeria/Niger Border