The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, has reassured that Nigeria’s borders will soon be reopened to encourage free movement of people and products.
He stated this Friday in Abuja while receiving personnel protective equipment (PPEs) donated to NIS by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in company of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS officials, to the officers for combating Covid-19 pandemic.
While expressing gratitude to the IOM and other organisations for the donation, which included cartons of face masks, shield glasses, among others, Babandede, said that NIS officers are greatly at risk of exposure to COVID-19 as the first officers that people come in contact with at sea, land or airports.
He said: “I sincerely thank IOM, EU and ECOWAS for this intervention. We are the first contact when it comes to immigration in air, sea or land. These PPEs will greatly help us in discharging our duties effectively, so I will deploy them to the borders in order to ensure that our officers are well protected. I agree that the defender should not be defenceless.
“Also, I want to assure you that our borders will be reopened very soon. We are doing our best to ensure a quality life for our officers. Also, this intervention by IOM, EU and ECOWAS should be a great challenge for our state governors. They should follow this great example by supporting our officers. They should also improve infrastructure in order to combat the pandemic.”
Speaking earlier, Head of Programmes IOM, Prestage Murimn, said that law enforcement agencies need to be protected against the pandemic in order to uphold their capacities.
She said: “COVID-19 has affected all of us in different ways, leading to loss of livelihoods and deaths. Therefore, we should protect ourselves and law enforcement agencies. In this regard, IOM is supporting Nigeria with PPEs, including facemasks, shield glasses and other items required to combat the pandemic at the borders.
“The PPEs will encourage the law enforcement agencies to deliver effectively on their mandates. Though the pandemic has been devastating, movements have been going on. Many will continue moving, hence our decision to fight the pandemic in our own way using PPEs.”
