By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, Cross River State Command says it is seeking synergy with commercial transporters to monitor passengers carried through land, air and sea routes to curb illegal migrants that can pose security threat to the Nigerian territorial boarders.
The Comptroller of the Cross River State Command, Funke Adeuyi, stated this, Wednesday, during a Stakeholders Meeting/Sensitization Forum with National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and National Association of Transport Owners, NATO and other transport owners in Cross River.
Adeuyi who called on the transport stakeholders to help the Immigration Service to do their work better through information sharing, urged the participants at the meeting to monitor their passengers manifest in other to identify their nationalities and other forms of identification.
She urged the commercial transport operators not to compromise with foreigners to hide their identity, as well as promptly reporting security cases to the immigration offices spread across the State.
“We have observed with dismay that most of the passengers, particularly foreigners, do not have identity or any valid travelling document while entering the shores of Nigeria. Before you pick passengers at departure points, try and educate them on the need to carry their valid travelling documents.
“If passengers provide useful information about themselves with credible document to back it up, it will make our work easier and will help stop your vehicles or boats from being delayed by our officers.
“And with this, we should be able to reduce security challenges the country is facing. The security of the nation should be everybody’s concern,” Adeuyi noted.
The Comptroller said acceptable and valid means of identification for foreigners were the person’s International Passport and Valid Residence Card for those living in Nigeria.
According to her, there are seven Control Posts in Cross River State. She enumerated the Control Posts to include Mfum, Calabar seaport, Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Agbokim, Utanga, Ikang and Ekang.
Adeuyi explained further that the Service also established Itigidi, Effraya, Okrikang, Yahe, Akpabuyo, Ekang, Mfum as Border Corps to check influx of foreigners.
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