War on terror: FG to register all foreigners at Local Government level

The Nigerian Federal Government has said it would soon begin registration of all foreigners in their Local Government Areas of residence. This development comes following intelligence reports showing a high-level participation of foreigners in insurgent activities as well as herdsmen attacks in the country.

Speaking at the weekend in Abuja, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (CGI), Muhammad Babandede, while receiving the Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who paid him a courtesy visit, stated that the move would enhance the Government's database of all aliens in the country and make for their easier tracking in the event of any security threat.

This was even as the Immigration boss asked for access to INTERPOL's I-24/7 portal in order to enhance its capacity to contribute to winning the war against terrorism, insurgency and other organized crimes.

Service Public Relations Officer, Ekpedeme King, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, quoted the CGI as saying that such access was imperative, since the NIS plays a pivotal role in the security of the nation, seeing as it provides the frontline officers at the nation's land, sea and air borders.

"Therefore, access to the INTERPOL database will improve our border security considerably. The INTERPOL I-24/7 network enables the 190 member countries to search and cross-check data of suspected criminals, wanted persons, stolen or lost travel documents within seconds," Babandede said.

The INTERPOL I-24/7 is installed at all 190 National Central Bureaus which are under the Police.

Related News

500
Leave a comment...