The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has trained 87 officers on its Border Control and Immigration Management System, BCIMS, as part of efforts to strengthen border security, improve intelligence gathering and combat transnational crimes.
The statement was signed by the NIS Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, in Abuja on October 16, 2026.
The specialised training concluded on Friday at the auditorium of the Technology Building, NIS Headquarters, Abuja.
The service said the programme was designed to equip the officers with the technical capacity to deploy technology in border management, enhance intelligence-led operations and strengthen Nigeria’s national security framework.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said integrating immigration databases with other government data systems was critical to strengthening national security, improving operational efficiency and protecting citizens.
Mr Tunji-Ojo, in his address at the closing ceremony, charged the officers to regard their selection for the training as a responsibility that required professionalism, integrity and accountability.
He urged them to deploy the system effectively to secure the country’s borders and position the immigration service as a technologically advanced institution.
The minister also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for supporting institutional reforms, personnel welfare and technological modernisation across the ministry.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, also urged the officers to use the BCIMS to improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence-led operations and detect threats linked to transnational crimes.
Ms Nandap stressed the need for accuracy, integrity and accountability in the use of the system, particularly in handling sensitive security information.
She warned that technological tools must complement, rather than replace, professional judgment, directing the officers to verify intelligence, respond lawfully to security alerts and comply with established operational procedures.
According to her, the effectiveness of the system would be determined by its impact on border security, threat detection and Nigeria’s overall national security.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director of Law Enforcement and Liaison at the Office of the National Security Adviser, AIG A.N. Thomas, commended the immigration service for investing in specialised training and technological innovation.
Mr Ribadu emphasised the importance of intelligence-driven operations and collaboration among security agencies in addressing emerging threats and protecting the country’s territorial integrity.
He said effective deployment of the BCIMS would strengthen the detection of security threats and support efforts to combat transnational crimes.
An overview of the system was presented by ACI Patrick Odeh, who disclosed that the BCIMS integrates more than 15 million migration records obtained from over 14 data sources.
According to him, the system supports real-time identity verification and intelligence-led screening at border points.
The platform is also designed to improve the detection of fraudulent travel documents, identify persons of security interest and flag potential threats, thereby strengthening the service’s capacity to prevent cross-border criminal activities.
The service said the integration of migration records from multiple sources would support more effective screening and improve the use of intelligence in border management.
The ceremony was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, comptrollers-general of sister services and representatives of other security agencies.
The NIS said the successful completion of the training underscored its commitment to modernising border management through advanced technology, intelligence-led operations and improved personnel capacity.
The development comes amid continuing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to strengthen border controls and improve coordination in tackling crimes that exploit cross-border movement.