Nigeria seeks global collaboration to tackle organised immigration crime

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling Organised Immigration Crime (OIC), urging global collaboration for effective border control.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated this while addressing newsmen during the ongoing Border Security Summit at Lancaster House, London, United Kingdom, hosted by the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Alao Babatunde, conveyed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Minister of Interior highlighted the need for strengthened information and data sharing between international countries for effective border control.

He said that there was a need for collaboration among countries within the Sahel and West African sub-region for better international partnerships and information dissemination.

Tunji-Ojo said: “We need more data sharing and better collaborations to make sure we don’t just solve the problem but we stop the problem from happening.

“The major takeaway from this summit is proactiveness and not just being reactive, as countries are now more poised to criminalise irregular migration.

“So this summit is an impactful one because it provides an opportunity for ministers in border control to ensure we are all able to manage our borders to secure our countries,” he stated.

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According to him, Organised Immigration Crime is not an isolated problem unique to a particular country, emphasising that it is a shared problem; therefore, shared solutions must be proffered.

The Minister, however, acknowledged that border crime was of great concern to the Federal Government, hence the implementation of strategies towards combating such crimes.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has a border control solution because Nigeria is not just a destination point but a transit country.

“We have automated our solutions as there are more measures in place to ensure the borders are secured and to ensure irregular migration is brought to an end.

“We can’t afford to lose the battle before we start it, and so we know that with this kind of summit, as a united front, we will effectively combat this menace,” Tunji-Ojo assured.

Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has invested heavily in migration management and frameworks, especially in combating trans-border crime and irregular migration.

Between 2023 and 2025, Nigeria has upgraded its border surveillance technology to cover more border communities, as well as procured more operational vehicles to closely monitor its large expanse of borders in an effort to nip in the bud any form of transgression by offenders.

The London Summit, with about 40 countries in attendance, is expected to help the global community collaborate as an international entity seeking to tackle the rising threat of Organised Immigration Crime.

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