The Minister of Interior Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd), says tackling insecurity requires the efforts of the four countries within the Lake Chad Basin.
Dambazau who made this known at the foundation laying ceremony of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Technology Building in Abuja on Thursday said these countries included Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on Nov. 7, approved the sum of N7.1 billion for the construction of the centre.
According to the minister, there was no doubt that Boko Haram insurgency has been degraded within Nigeria.
“Don’t forget the fact that in 2015 when this government came in, about 14 Local Governments were flying the Boko Haram flag; that is not the case today.
“What is happening is just within the lake Chad Basin. This basin is the responsibility of four countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad and that is why there is the Lake Chad Basin Authority,” he said.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was presently in Lake Chad to discuss these fundamental issues with a view to tackling the Boko Haram menace.
The minister further said that insecurity was one of the major problems experienced across borders ranging from human trafficking, drugs and terrorism.
“These activities are done by human beings. Security-wise, we have been able to distinguish between the right and wrong persons. There is going to be an interface with the INTERPOL. The technology centre when completed will be able to capture the data of every human being coming in and out of the country. This certainly will go a long way to facilitate efficiency in terms of security,” he said.
He said that the centre was government’s effort towards giving Nigerians the best services.
“We have just taken another step to domesticate the production of passports and improving border security,” he said.
Earlier, the Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, said that the facility would provide a modern and befitting facility for the harmonisation of the various database of the Service.
“The large cache of data generated daily from our operations in Nigeria and abroad through issuance of e-passports, residence permits, visas and other facilities are to be warehoused in such a way as to enable more effective and efficient control in furtherance of national security.”
He said the technology building would be a one-stop shop for data management by the service while also providing a veritable platform for sharing of data with relevant security and law enforcement agencies.
The comptroller-general noted that the minister had launched a new curriculum for all NIS training institutions which was geared towards achieving changes in the personnel.
“We are investing so much in our personnel that we are certain of leaving behind a well trained and motivated workforce with correct attitude to work.”
He said with the global security environment characterised by nefarious criminality ranging from terrorism, human trafficking, a new approach that was technologically based was needed to check the menace.
Babandede further explained that the centre would not only provide tool for cooperation with the national security actors but also with the international community.
“We will be connected with INTERPOL and be able to share intelligence with friendly countries based on our national laws.” With reports by NAN
