NIS, DSS Strengthen Border Surveillance Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security stakeholders have stepped up efforts to strengthen border surveillance and prevent foreign interference ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The agencies made the commitment during a sensitisation workshop held at the NIS headquarters in Abuja on Friday. The workshop was themed “The Role of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Election Monitoring and Management.”

NIS Calls for Stronger Security Cooperation

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, said credible elections required cooperation among all security institutions to ensure a peaceful and secure environment.

Nandap, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency, Franca Nwanneka, said the Immigration Service occupied a strategic position in Nigeria's security architecture because of its responsibility for border security and migration management.

She urged officers to remain vigilant against irregular migration, migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other transnational crimes that could threaten national security.

Nandap also reaffirmed the service's political neutrality, warning officers against using their official positions or resources to participate in partisan politics. She urged them to uphold discipline, respect the rule of law and remain loyal to the Constitution and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She further charged senior officers, zonal coordinators, comptrollers and heads of formations to ensure that their commands were adequately prepared before, during and after the elections.

DSS Warns Against Exploitation of Border Gaps

Also speaking, the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, described border security and the integrity of Nigeria's migration system as increasingly important as the country approaches the 2027 elections.

Ajayi, represented by the Deputy Director-General of Operations and Intelligence, Patrick Ikenweiwe, warned that foreign elements could exploit weaknesses along the borders to move illicit arms, equipment and individuals seeking to undermine the electoral process.

He described the NIS as the first line of national defence and stressed that its vigilance was essential to ensuring peaceful and credible elections.

The DSS chief reaffirmed the agency's commitment to closer cooperation with the Immigration Service through timely intelligence sharing, joint threat assessments and coordinated security operations, particularly along land borders and at other entry points.

Concerns Over Electoral Security

The renewed security measures come amid growing concerns about political violence and the safety of the 2027 general elections.

The Punch had earlier reported that United States officials pledged to closely monitor Nigeria's January 2027 presidential election, with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, warning that the poll could trigger violence.

At a congressional hearing, US Congressman Riley Moore also called for close scrutiny of the election, while Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley Barnes, said the US State Department had a dedicated team monitoring elections worldwide and would pay particular attention to Nigeria's poll.

Punch Newspapers