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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Federal Government has disclosed that it has dismantled organised human smuggling syndicates exploiting vulnerable migrants, pledging to further strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence architecture and border security framework.
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Kemi Nandap, made the disclosure while flagging off the 2025 Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Week at the Service’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI) in charge of Works and Logistics, Ada James Umanah, the CG said that the Federal Government was intensifying a multi-layered response to emerging trends in migrant smuggling that pose serious risks to human life and national security.
While reaffirming the commitment of the Service, the Comptroller General noted: “the NIS would continue to deepen border security and intelligence capabilities, dismantle smuggling networks and prosecute offenders, protect migrants”—especially women and children—from exploitation, strengthen domestic and international partnerships, and uphold the dignity and human rights of migrants regardless of status.”
Equally speaking on the theme, “Smuggling of Migrants: Emerging Trends, Realities and National Response,” the Immigration boss said: “Nigeria, as a country of origin, transit and destination for migrants, could not afford to ignore the growing sophistication of smuggling networks that now rely heavily on digital platforms, encrypted communication, falsified documents and transnational criminal collaborations.”
She however warned that migrants were “increasingly exposed to grave dangers, including trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation, violence and death, particularly along irregular desert and sea routes.”
“The activities of smugglers threaten border integrity, public safety and internal security,” she said.
Reacting further she said that the NIS, with the support of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has adopted a technology-driven and intelligence-led strategy to combat the menace.
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She disclosed that the Service has “strengthened surveillance across land, sea and air borders through the deployment of a Command and Control Centre that mirrors nationwide operations, alongside the Migration Information and Data Analysis System, Advanced Passenger Information Systems, Passenger Name Records, e-gates at international airports and Huawei-powered e-border solutions installed at more than 144 border locations nationwide.”
The Immigration boss further added that Nigeria has continued to deepen cooperation with regional and international partners, including ECOWAS, the African Union, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ICMPD, FIIAPP and FRONTEX, to enhance capacity building, intelligence sharing, joint investigations and safe return programmes.
She said that bilateral agreements with transit and destination countries have improved early warning systems and cross-border law enforcement.
Nandap also disclosed that the Service has scaled up public sensitisation to counter the false narratives used by smugglers to lure young Nigerians, revealing that more than 579,000 National Youth Service Corps NYSC members were sensitized this year alone, in addition to widespread outreach in border communities, schools, transport unions and youth associations across the country.
According to her, the campaigns focus on exposing digital recruitment tactics, fake job offers abroad and the importance of safe, orderly and regular migration channels.
She stressed that the fight against migrant smuggling requires collective responsibility, calling on families, communities, traditional institutions, civil society, the media and development partners to work together to protect vulnerable populations and secure Nigeria’s borders against criminal exploitation.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Migration Directorate, Mrs N. Odigbo, described the weeklong activities as an opportunity to reinforce national and global commitment to safe migration.
She said the Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Week would climax on December 18, 2025, which marks the International Migrants Day.
The DCG also expressed appreciation to international partners for their technical support and capacity-building interventions, assuring that the NIS remains committed to sustaining strong partnerships in pursuit of safe, orderly and regular migration, border security and national development.
