By Peter Dansu The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stepped up its campaign against irregular migration, blocking 332 migrants and re...
By Peter Dansu
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stepped up its campaign against irregular migration, blocking 332 migrants and rescuing 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour at the Seme Border in Badagry.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, made this known during a one-day stakeholders’ seminar on migrant smuggling held at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
According to her, the border patrol at Seme recently intercepted hundreds of travellers who lacked valid documents and were attempting to cross into neighbouring countries under questionable circumstances.
“Officers at the Seme Border denied entry to 332 migrants who did not possess valid travel papers. In addition, 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour were rescued,” Nandap disclosed.
She added that 294 Nigerians attempting to leave the country through the same route were stopped over concerns of irregular migration linked to the ongoing “Japa” trend, the popular slang for mass emigration.
The Immigration boss explained that these actions followed the installation of new CCTV systems and stricter checks along the Lagos–Benin corridor, one of West Africa’s busiest border points.
Nandap described migrant smuggling as a growing and complex transnational crime often driven by organised syndicates preying on people’s economic challenges and dreams of a better life.
She emphasised that addressing the menace requires a united front involving government agencies, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector.
“Every smuggled migrant represents a life placed at risk, a family disrupted, and a community robbed of its potential,” she said. “This fight is both a security imperative and a moral responsibility that demands a comprehensive, collaborative approach.”
Highlighting recent reforms, she noted that the NIS has upgraded its legal tools, improved officer training, and intensified nationwide awareness campaigns, including sensitising over 577,000 NYSC members in 2025. Plans are also underway to establish anti-smuggling clubs in schools and youth service camps.
Nandap reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with the African Union, ECOWAS, IOM, UNODC, INTERPOL, and other global partners to boost intelligence sharing and joint border operations.
She urged Nigerians to embrace safe, orderly, and legal migration processes, stressing that the Service remains committed to protecting lives while ensuring that the nation’s borders remain open for lawful trade and travel, but firmly closed to human traffickers and smugglers.
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