The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of Immigration Forum.
This was announced in a statement shared on the Service’s X handle, signed by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Kenneth Udo, on Tuesday.
Udo noted that the appointment took place during the forum’s recent meeting in Banjul, Gambia, where representatives from 13 member states gathered to discuss issues related to migration and mobility.
The meeting focused on fast-tracking the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) and removing the 90-day stay limit/residence permits for citizens of the community.
ENBIC is designed to replace the ECOWAS Travel Certificate and Residence Permit, enabling smoother movement, residence, and business across the region while maintaining national security.
The NIS PRO quoted Nandap as stressing the importance of swift policy implementation to promote regional integration and socio-economic development.
While acknowledging the progress made, she pointed out ongoing challenges such as Irregular Migration, Human Trafficking, and Border Security issues, worsened by the vastness of the borders.
She called for a unified and coordinated approach to Border Management and Immigration practices across the region to enhance both security and the protection of citizens’ rights.