NIS, Red Cross partner on emergency response training in Kano

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Kano State Branch, to provide first aid and emergency response training for its personnel as part of efforts to strengthen operational efficiency and humanitarian response capabilities.

The Comptroller of the NIS Training School, Kano,  Tony Akuneme, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Kano State Branch of the NRCS during a  visit to the institution.

The development was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Public Relations Officer of the NIS Training School, Kano, Abubakar Salisu.

Akuneme said the proposed training was aimed at strengthening cooperation between both organisations while equipping Immigration officers with critical life-saving skills needed in the discharge of their duties.

According to him, no fewer than 2,000 newly recruited officers are expected to graduate soon and would require basic first aid and emergency response training to enable them respond effectively to emergencies encountered in the course of duty.

He noted that officers often find themselves in situations requiring immediate intervention and that the acquisition of first aid skills would improve their ability to provide timely assistance before professional medical help arrives.

“The command is committed to providing the necessary support and creating an enabling environment for the Red Cross to conduct specialised training for Immigration personnel in the state.

“The training will further strengthen the capacity of our officers and prepare them to respond appropriately during emergencies and humanitarian situations,” he said.

The Comptroller added that he would communicate the initiative to the NIS headquarters with a view to expanding the partnership to all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He expressed optimism that institutionalising the collaboration at the national level would significantly improve the preparedness and responsiveness of Immigration personnel across the country.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NRCS, Kano State Branch, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, said the visit was aimed at consolidating the long-standing relationship between the humanitarian organisation and the NIS, as well as other security agencies operating in Kano State.

Abdullahi said the Red Cross remained committed to supporting security and emergency response institutions through capacity-building programmes designed to save lives and enhance public safety.

He reaffirmed the society’s readiness to train Immigration officers in first aid and emergency response, stressing that such training would equip them with the requisite skills to provide immediate assistance whenever emergencies occur.

“The partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to promoting professionalism, preparedness and humanitarian service delivery,” he said.

Abdullahi also expressed appreciation to the Kano State Comptroller of Immigration for the warm reception accorded the delegation and commended his commitment to deepening cooperation between the two organisations.

He expressed confidence that the proposed collaboration would contribute significantly to strengthening the emergency response capabilities of Immigration personnel in Kano State and beyond.

Both organisations agreed at the end of the meeting to deepen collaboration and work together in areas of mutual interest, particularly capacity building and emergency response training.

The partnership is expected to strengthen institutional cooperation between the NIS and the NRCS while enhancing the preparedness of Immigration officers to respond effectively to emergencies in the course of their duties.