Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government of Italy have strengthened cooperation on border management with the deployment of operational equipment to enhance the capacity of the Service.
The initiative, being implemented by UNODC with financial support from the Government of Italy through the Ministry of the Interior’s Department of Public Security – Central Directorate for Immigration and Border Police (DCIPF), is expected to improve border surveillance, control and operational effectiveness.
According to a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Saturday, under the 18-month project, the NIS will receive 30 operational vehicles and 60 computers to boost the mobility, technological capacity and effectiveness of personnel deployed to remote and high-risk border locations.
The project was officially flagged off on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the United Nations House in Abuja during a high-level meeting convened by UNODC.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, expressed appreciation to the Government of Italy and UNODC for their continued support towards strengthening the operational capacity of the Service.
Nandap said the provision of the vehicles and computers would enhance the Service’s mobility, surveillance capability and digital infrastructure, while improving overall operational efficiency, particularly in remote and high-risk border areas.
Also speaking, the Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, H.E. Roberto Mengoni, reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen border management and institutional capacity.
The UNODC Country Representative, Mr Cheikh Toure, said the participation of senior officials and other stakeholders at the flag-off ceremony underscored the importance attached to the project.
Toure noted that the intervention was designed to address existing mobility and technological gaps within Nigeria’s border management system.
The Nigeria Immigration Service said it would ensure the judicious use of the equipment and leverage the support to further strengthen Nigeria’s border management system, national security and the promotion of safe, orderly and regular migration.
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