Federal Government has said there are currently no laws preventing cross-border movements.
Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola stated this while addressing State House Correspondents after yesterday’s virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the Federal Government was not turning a blind eye to the issue of criminal elements posing as herders from neighbouring countries, adding that government was using all security measures to curtail their exploits.
Presenting the score card of his ministry to the FEC, Aregbesola said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had begun implementation of the Border Management Strategy (BMS).
“We completed the installation of Migration Information Data Analysis System (MIDAS) at all international airports in Nigeria. The construction of a world-class technology building to manage all NIS ICT -enhanced systems in Nigeria is nearing completion.
“Fourteen well-equipped Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) have been deployed at some entry points of the country.
“We have deployed the Visa-On-Arrival with biometric features at all entry points (air borders). The MIDAS has now been deployed at all entry points (air borders)
“We have deployed Visa-On-Arrival at all air borders to aid easy business and tourist travels. We initiated the online application for Nigerian passports.
“As of today, 145,695 lost and stolen Nigerian passports have been uploaded after successfully connecting the passport database with that of National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol database domiciled with the Nigeria Police.
“In the area of public engagement, the Nigeria Immigration Service twitter handle has been recognised as one of the most robust and responsive handles”, he said.
Asked how the migration information data would be used to checkmate the land borders, especially as the borders are porous, Aregbesola said:”Let me be clear and remind us of the fact that our borders are artificial.