NIS,IOM Cooperate on a New Era of Smart Borders Management, Hold a Landmark Meeting in Lagos
By Raymond Enoch
In a defining step toward modernizing West Africa’s migration architecture, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria convened a high-level strategic meeting in Lagos to strengthen cooperation on migration management and border governance. The gathering, attended by leading donor partners from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands, underscored Nigeria’s growing leadership in regional security reforms and digital border systems.
NIS Comptroller-General, Kemi Nanna Nandap, described the dialogue as a pivotal moment to assess collective gains, refine institutional priorities, and advance a technology-driven roadmap for national border control. She highlighted IOM’s “long-standing and transformative partnership” in enhancing policy reforms, operational efficiency and the implementation of Nigeria’s National Border Management Strategy.
IOM Chief of Mission, Dimanche Sharon, applauded the NIS for its forward-leaning adoption of digital solutions, including the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and emerging e-border tools that now place Nigeria at the forefront of innovation in Africa’s border security landscape.
Over two days, experts and partners are set to produce critical recommendations shaping the next phase of Nigeria–IOM cooperation — from capacity building to interoperable systems, cross-border intelligence sharing and migration governance reforms. Stakeholders affirmed that the strengthened collaboration will not only boost Nigeria’s internal security architecture but also reinforce its strategic influence in shaping regional border governance standards.
As global mobility evolves and security threats become more complex, the Lagos meeting signals Nigeria’s determination to embrace smarter solutions, deepen institutional partnerships, and set a benchmark for border modernization across the ECOWAS region.
