JOS — Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, to strengthen border management, intelligence gathering, and internal security across the state.
Governor Mutfwang gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving the Plateau State Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, CIS Mary U. Abang, during a courtesy visit at the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos.
In a statement by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Gyang Bere, the Governor described the Nigerian Immigration Service as a vital institution in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He noted that effective migration management has become increasingly crucial in addressing evolving security threats, combating transnational crimes, and ensuring public safety.
He emphasised that the Plateau State Government would continue to work closely with the Service to identify, monitor, and prevent illegal activities involving undocumented foreign nationals, while ensuring that lawful migrants are properly documented in accordance with the nation’s immigration laws.
”It is the responsibility of government, through the appropriate agencies, to protect the sovereignty of Nigeria and guarantee the security of lives and property. On behalf of the Government and people of Plateau State, I pledge our unwavering collaboration and support to enhance the effectiveness of the Nigerian Immigration Service in the discharge of its constitutional mandate,” the Governor stated.
Governor Mutfwang stressed the importance of stronger intelligence sharing between the state government and the Immigration Service, particularly at the grassroots level. He urged immigration officers deployed across the 17 Local Government Areas to remain vigilant, strengthen surveillance, and collaborate with other security agencies to curb irregular migration and other security threats.
He further assured the Comptroller that his administration would continue to improve the operational environment of the command by providing the necessary support to enable officers to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.
NIS Seeks Support
Earlier, the Plateau State Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, CIS Mary U. Abang, commended Governor Mutfwang for his commitment to security, describing him as a leader whose policies have consistently strengthened the operations of security agencies in the state.
She disclosed that the command had intensified migration enforcement operations through the profiling, apprehension, and repatriation of illegal foreign nationals, while expanding surveillance and intelligence-driven operations across Plateau State.
Comptroller Abang appealed for the Governor’s support in providing a permanent command headquarters, operational vehicles, and motorcycles to enhance patrols, especially in remote communities and mining locations where undocumented foreign nationals are often found.
”We appeal for logistics, particularly motorcycles, to enable our officers access remote mining areas. We have discovered instances where some foreign nationals, including Chinese nationals, entered the state with temporary work permits valid for only 30 days but remained illegally for over a year after their permits had expired,” she stated.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Plateau State Government and the Nigerian Immigration Service to strengthening intelligence-led security operations, promoting lawful migration, combating illegal immigration, and safeguarding the lives, property, and territorial integrity of Plateau State.
Mutfwang pledges stronger partnership with Immigration Service to tackle illegal migration
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