Dialogue On The Progress At @NigImmigration Service & Other Matters

Space Summary

The Twitter Space Dialogue On The Progress At @NigImmigration Service & Other Matters hosted by segalink. The Twitter space featuring Dr. SEGA delved into critical issues surrounding justice, accountability, and transparency within the Nigerian Immigration Service. Highlights included discussions on community empowerment, the importance of transparency in governance, and the transformative power of advocacy. Dr. SEGA's advocacy work aims to drive positive changes, foster collaboration, and enhance public service accountability.

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Questions

Q: What is the focus of Dr. SEGA's advocacy work within the Nigerian Immigration Service?
A: Dr. SEGA focuses on promoting justice, accountability, and transparency within the service.

Q: How does transparency contribute to good governance according to the discussion?
A: Transparency fosters trust, understanding, and credibility among stakeholders.

Q: Why is it essential to empower communities through advocacy efforts?
A: Empowering communities leads to better engagement, cooperation, and progress.

Q: What role do justice and fairness play in governance?
A: Justice and fairness are cornerstones for effective and equitable governance.

Q: How can collaboration and dialogue drive positive transformations?
A: Collaboration allows for diverse perspectives, innovation, and sustainable solutions.

Q: In what ways can advocacy influence policy changes and institutional improvements?
A: Advocacy can raise awareness, mobilize support, and encourage reforms.

Q: Why is it important to champion causes supporting community empowerment?
A: Community empowerment leads to self-sufficiency, growth, and social development.

Q: How does ensuring accountability in public services benefit governance?
A: Accountability leads to effective service delivery, transparency, and trust.

Q: Why is promoting transparency crucial for enhancing trust between citizens and government?
A: Transparency builds credibility, accountability, and fosters citizen-government relations.

Q: What impact can leveraging advocacy have on addressing societal issues?
A: Advocacy can drive awareness, mobilize resources, and facilitate positive societal changes.

Highlights

Time: 00:15:47
Advocacy for Change in the Nigerian Immigration Service Dr. SEGA's efforts to drive impactful reforms and transparency within the service.

Time: 00:25:32
The Role of Transparency in Governance Discussions on how transparency fosters trust and credibility in public institutions.

Time: 00:35:19
Community Empowerment Through Advocacy Exploring the importance of empowering communities for societal progress.

Time: 00:45:58
Justice and Fairness in Governance Highlighting the significance of justice and fairness in effective governance.

Time: 00:55:42
Collaboration for Positive Transformation Emphasizing the role of collaboration and dialogue in driving positive change.

Time: 01:05:17
Advocacy Impact on Policy and Institutional Reforms The influence of advocacy on policy changes and institutional enhancements.

Time: 01:15:23
Community Empowerment for Social Development The benefits of community empowerment for growth and societal well-being.

Time: 01:25:11
Ensuring Accountability in Public Services The importance of accountability in enhancing service delivery and governance.

Time: 01:35:48
Promoting Trust Through Transparency Building trust and credibility through transparency in government-citizen relations.

Time: 01:45:29
Advocacy as a Driver for Societal Change The transformative role of advocacy in addressing societal challenges and driving progress.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. SEGA advocates for impactful changes within the Nigerian Immigration Service.
• Transparency and accountability play a crucial role in promoting good governance.
• Empowering communities through advocacy leads to positive societal changes.
• Justice and fairness are fundamental values in ensuring effective governance.
• Collaboration and dialogue are essential for driving progress and positive transformation.
• Advocacy for justice and transparency can influence policy changes and institutional improvements.
• The importance of championing causes that support community empowerment.
• Ensuring accountability in public services is vital for effective governance.
• Promoting transparency can enhance trust between citizens and government institutions.
• Leveraging advocacy to address societal issues and drive positive change.

Behind the Mic

Introduction and Welcoming Remarks

Good evening, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, and special welcome to our distinguished guests at this government or let us say dialogue on the progress that Nigerian Immigration Service and other matters. And our special guest today is none other than our distinguished Madam Kemi Nanan Nanda, BCC, FSM, Mmis, who was appointed as the 19th CGI, that is, contropola of Immigration Service, Controller General of Immigration Service with effect on the 1 March 2024. Until her appointment, she was the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of passports and other travel documents. In fact, she supervised the automation of the passport application system as DCG. She has also headed migration Directorate at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters. Over time and under her leadership as acting DCG migration, the Nigerian Immigration Service produced the first short film titled journey to unknown destination. I'm sure a few of us have caught that. And if you have not, google it, find it and catch up to sensitize Nigerians on the dangers of irregular migration.

Profile of CGI Nanda

CGI Nanda is a thoroughbred. A public servant who believe in ideas of due process, capacity building and professionalism. She is decisive, she's firm, she's perspicacious and fundamentally a silent achiever. She is a patriot, one that we are proud of, one that we love to hear from more, one that has made us proud over the years. And that's one of the things that we want to walk through with her. Let us have the opening statement before we go into the question. You're very welcome. Distinguished. Thank you very much, doctor. It's an honor and a privilege to be here. Thank you so much. We really appreciate your coming, Ma. And today we're looking into. This is like the second edition of Special Presidential Initiative where we talk and walk Nigerians through the issues with areas of the institutions that Mister president is very much interested in, that are critical to our economy and also to our nation at large.

Discussion on Progress and Issues

And today we are discussing the Nigerian Immigration Services progress on all executables as mentioned by the honorable minister of interior and the recent increase in the cost of procuring our passport and from. But before we go deeper into the whole process, let us begin by looking at the things that you have done along the parameters of the deployment of technology, the training and the strategic communication. But let's begin with areas of border management. And because I know I'm speaking to the right person now, because you have been through a lot of motions within the system, you have been in the acting DCG on migration. You worked on travel documents and passports. You worked all around areas that are very critical that must have been neglected or under invested in over time. Tell us more about the things that you have done within the premise of border management.

Border Management and Governance

Yes ma'am. Okay, thank you so much for that question. Before I go on, let me just give you a brief, just a little insight. Nigeria has a very, we have an expanse border, it's over 4000 km in terms of the length. And managing that border length is not an easy task and it's not something that has to be done with just human capacity, but also in terms of technology. And in the past what we have done in NIS has been mainly border management, which is just looking at the border, who comes in, who goes out. But with this new administration, what we have done now is border governance. What that means is we've incorporated all the parameters in terms of how do we keep our borders secure. And critical for that is the border communities.

Technology Deployment for Border Security

We have incorporated them into our activities to make sure that we have a firmer grasp of border management. And to do this successfully it must be technology driven. And how do we do that? We have deployed a lot of technology to our borders to make sure that it assists our officers. Because human beings, there are always error in terms of human beings. You can't see it all, you can't know everything. Technology is there to help and to guide us and that's what we have done. We have installed what we call the intelligence video system, surveillance system. What this does is it can cover long distance and it helps, it has I think distance about one or 2 that helps the officers at the borders to see either dangers coming or whatever is happening within the environment.

Enhanced Response Mechanisms

What that does for them is it helps them prepare, it helps them to assess the dangers and it helps them to have a better response time and makes them go back to. It also helps them to, in terms of response time, it's quicker, it's faster, it's more target deployed. We also have the command and control center which is something we just built recently with the coming of the administration. We have a command and control center. What this does is it gives us real time happenings at the borders and it also helps us in terms of response. And this control, command and control is incorporated with the API and PNR. The API and the PNR. Basically what it does is it helps us in guiding who's coming into the country.

Improved Passport Management and Costs

We have a better, it's interactive. Before the people come into our country we can guess who's coming in. We know who's coming. Not guests, sorry. We can actually know if there are any persons of interest who's coming into the country beforehand. And it helps us to curtail or to guide against such things. We can either reject them before they even board or we can accept. So it's a target based security system. It's not question of guessing or who's coming or you're not prepared to who's coming into the country. So security now is more target. Is target security. You know the target. How do I put this? It helps us. It's precise, it's concise. The people you know are coming into the country, you know exactly who is coming into the country.

Challenges and Developments in Border Management

And it's target driven, target based. What that does is that it helps us. We're prepared if we have a person of interest or person who we're suspecting to have a funny character or who is not acceptable to the country, we're already prepared. We know that he's coming, so we are prepared is either we reject him at the airport or we want to come in, we apprehend him and we hand him over to the necessary authority. And don't forget that border security is also linked to economic development. So what this has done for us is to make sure that the country is better positioned in terms of the economy. We've also installed the automated border control system, which is also known as the e gate. This helps us in terms of passenger clearance. We want people to come into the country.

Streamlined Passport Clearance Experience

The experience they come in is when they come in, they have a good experience. It's a sweet experience. If I can borrow the expression of our honorable minister coming into the country. Clearance at the airport is very smooth and is seamless. It takes approximately 30 seconds to clear passengers that you can, I mean, is much better than what we have now. Initially, what we had was about 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes to clear one passenger. And that is not. It's not very. It's not very comfortable. It's not very. It's not very. It's not a friendly or nice environment for anyone to come into the country. I'm sure you remember there was this case of a lady who was complaining about, was on the social media where she complained about how long it took to be cleared.

Passport Availability and Challenges Faced

So what the e gate does for us is it cuts down the clearance of passengers. And we have these e gates installed at all our major international airports. We have about 41 of them. And also initially, what we do, what we have is NIS is an organization that has a lot of data in terms of migration management and border, of course, border security. But what we have now, we have our data center, which is comparable to anywhere in the world, is about 1.4 pentabytes the size of the data center. And what that does for us is we've integrated all our data systems into one, into that data center, so that it helps us in terms of sharing information with other agencies.

Organizational Changes Within NIS

We are more organized. We are data from all different sources, from our passport, our visas, Sepac, everything is integrated into one. And it's better for national security, it's better for us managing the border as well. And of course, there's also the border reforms, because in terms of border management, you have different layers of border management. You have control before. You have to have control before they come into the country, which is what we talk about when you talk about visa. The visa reforms that helps us control who comes into our country. It's all part of the border management system, border governance. So we have control before they come into the country, which we do with our visas.

Visa Reforms and Biometric Changes

And that right now is under. We're reforming them. We're making sure that our visas are automated. All the systems are automated. And also we have the issuance of the visas are now going to be all biometric. We've deployed that initially we had manual, but as of, I think, a week ago, with all the systems, all our missions outside the country are now operating as biometric visa, which is still ongoing. It's an ongoing process. We have overdose, 51 missions. So it's all going in all those missions to make sure that the visas we issue there are all biometric visa. And we also have the visa case management system.

Integration and Online Visa Management

When I say that, I mean that these visas are linked to our systems at the border. So you can now look at visas coming in to see the genuinely of if they are real or fake. Up until now, we couldn't do that. So, but with the automation of these visa systems, it's integrated into our system. So we can now see if you have a fake nigerian visa we can detect. So that helps us control who comes into the country. And then we also have control after, which is done by our SEPAC and our intelligence group, our Inc, and also the migration unit, of course, that we have also the e migrants registration, which is also part of the control after entrance, after control of the migrants, after they have entered into the country.

Registering Foreign Nationals and Data Integration

We make sure they are registered at our immigrant centers, where we keep tag of all non Nigerians in the country, whether african or european, wherever. We have a whole database of them. So what we've now done, all these databases are going to be integrated into one data center so that everything is warehoused in one system. Unlike before, what we had all these, you know, in single. We had them in silosys. And that was not. It was not useful because to generate data, you have to go here, go there. But with the integration now, it's just a simple touch of the button and you get what you need.

Interagency Collaboration and Networking

And we also, of course, we're the leading agency in terms of migration and border security. What we do also, we share this intelligence with other agencies that require them. We are very big in terms of interagency collaboration. We work well with other agencies to share this data because national security is not just what NIS can do all by themselves. And in terms of border governance, it entails working together with other agencies. And apart from the technology improvement, we've done visa reforms, we also have, of course, the passport reforms that we've had done as well.

Passport Reforms and Personnel Welfare

We've automated all our system in terms of passport applications, the processing, and of course, the vetting as well. That has been done as well. I must mention that one thing we have done that has been very silent or very, you know, we've been very quiet about is the terms of, in terms of personnel welfare. It's been improved since we came on board. We have made, you know, the welfare of the personnel, you know, front burner. And this has been, you know, a very good experience for both the officers and our men. It has, because whether you like it or not, you can deploy technology as much as you want, but it's the men that would man this technology.

Training and Capacity Building Initiatives

And if they're not well, if they're not competent and well grounded, then it's going to be an exercise in futility. So capacity building also is one of the things we've been doing. We've invested a lot in terms of training and retraining our offices. Recently we had the sensitization at different airports and we also had the hostmanship training. Postmanship is the art of being welcomed, of feeling, being welcomed into wherever you are or whichever of our. Of our centers you go to. It's an act, it's part of our management strategy where we believe that any person, any citizen who comes into our services, who comes into our domain or who comes to any of our centers must feel welcomed, must see a change, must feel that loyalty, must feel that dedication, that professionalism.

Enhancing Public Trust and Service Delivery

That is what the art of horsemanship is all about. And that is something that's very. It's very basic. It's one of the baseline in Nigeria immigration, our. That's in our service. You know, our service model. That's one thing we're known for. A lot of postmanship, a lot of training. And in a nutshell, you know, we're just trying to make sure that NI's is repositioned. We want to gain public trust. I know there's been a lot of negativity in terms of what we've been seeing in the media lately. And what we're trying to do is to reverse that thinking, to make Nigerians know that NIS is a friendly institution.

Commitment to Public Service and Quality

We're here to serve the people. And that is basically what we want to do to make the people feel welcome, to know that our officers are here to cater for your needs, to make sure that whatever you need, we're here to serve you better. And, of course, I want to employ Nigerians as well to please continue to give us feedback, because without your feedback, we will not know what we need to do better or where we need to or what we need not to do. And of course, I'll encourage them to continue giving us positive criticism. And if I can use the word whistleblowing, please continue. Because in as much as welcome, we are committed to the welfare of our officers.

Zero Tolerance for Corruption

We are also committed to the fact that it's zero tolerance to corruption. And any of our officers found wanting or in any of this situation will be. There will be. I mean, clearly, we will not take it lightly. And they'll face all the required disciplinary action and which is what is happening right now, especially during the, you know, the recent ones we've had, it's been on social media and has been decisively dealt with. And it's still being dealt with. So we encourage our officers, of course, to do the best they can be and conduct themselves, you know, in the right manner and professionally. But we also frown.

Addressing Negative Perceptions

And we'll make it a duty to make sure that any bad egg in the system will make sure that weed them out, because NIS is not the NIS before things are changing. We want to be the best we can be in terms of, you know, best practices out there. We want to be an immigration service that is proud and, you know, we do our work well. Thank you very much. Let me let you breathe for a moment so that you can relax. And this is just a conversation that you're having with Nigerians. Being the very first in the history of nigerian immigration CGI to engage Nigerians in a live broadcast.

Importance of Engaging the Public

Nobody can engage you on tv. It is hard to engage you on radio shows. And then there's little, exposure, given the nature of what you're doing that you can have with the public on those other formats. But if there's going to be ever a challenge of the administration and your institution, it will be from twitter. That's why we are in, we're basking in the fire of this space, you know, to engage the nigerian public just so they can have that direct, you know, interactions with you, to walk through the things that you have done, the things that you're doing and the things that we can hope for.

The Role of Immigration in National Development

You mentioned if there is any institution or ministry in Nigeria that mirrors the campaign policies of the administration, when they are coming, it will be the Nigerian Immigration Service. Why? Because it deals with security, it deals with economic development, it deals with human capital development. And if these three can be fixed across institutions, Nigeria will better off. And the immigration of most of the time, all the services under the Ministry of Interior are often swept under. When people are complaining. They mix policies with operations, thereby pushing issues that are technical to politicians, thereby.

Navigating Complexities in Policy Implementation

And at the end of the day, the kind of response they get often gets conflicting. And sometimes also when political office holders and appointees, when they speak about certain technical things, they may say, by tomorrow, we are going to have to happen. But technically, deep inside the system, we know those things cannot be possible within that time frame. So it is always good to create that platform upon which Nigerians can engage with the professionals in the system who have spent decades giving their services, their professionalism to Nigerians.

Building a More Transparent Immigration System

And that's why we're very proud to have you help us break the ice and break the ceiling because I'm even glad because they said the future is female. And we are glad that you are here representing the motherhood, motherland, as it were, you know, and in service to our nation, especially in the. In respect to immigration. You've mentioned so many things that you did in a modest way. I know you provided operational vehicles for use by the border officials, you know, based on the implementation of the policies of the ministry. I know that also there is ongoing infrastructural upgrade at land border posts across Nigeria, especially with at the same border on the site.

Community Engagement in Border Management

I also know that there is creation of border community engagement unit across all border formations. So you are not just keeping people out, you are also engaging these people. Because we know, according to what the minister has mentioned on this platform before, that nigerian border is not just like a gate. There are towns in between us and other foreign countries. And it is not an easy task to maintain. And you've been doing so much in this regard and it's always good for Nigerians to hear directly from you.

Human Capital Development and Training Efforts

And in the space of human capital development, you have done a lot of trainings and retrainings, airport officers, training of passenger information units, you know, and continuous training which has been going on in the service. And every immigration officer is proud to be a part of what is going on because they can see the bigger picture and we can also see it and feel it from interacting with them across board. But one aspect that concerns Nigeria, is very sensitive to Nigeria is to Nigerians, is the aspect of passports. I know that miraculous things have been happening over the years with cushioning policies that helps prevent Nigerians at home from facing the harsh reality of costs, you know, in that regard, because I know I got my passport in the UK and I know how much we paid to apply.

Cost of Obtaining a Nigerian Passport

I also know how much we paid for poster order for it to get to us, to get posted to us. If I convert that fund, that figure into naira, it is not. Hundred thousand is far more than that. And so when the news broke that there might be a little bit of adjustment to the pricing based on several factors which you walk us through, Nigerians are asking, why is Awi having to pay more for procurement or passport when the economy is harsh? I want you to walk us gently through that conundrum just so that Nigerians can understand how much of sacrifices our nigerian immigration have been given in that regard.

Understanding Passport Pricing Adjustments

Thank you. Thank you very much, doctor. Everyone knows that, you know, these are hard times for the country. And believe me when I say it was a very difficult decision for us to make, but it was one we realized that we just had no choice but to make. Because whether we like it or not, we started. Nigeria was the first country to start the e passport, which was in 2019. And at that time, I think dollar was about 360 naira to a dollar. And the price at that time was 25,000 naira. And that's like, how many years ago? Between that time and now, the dollar is now 1600.

Challenges with Passport Production Costs

And this passport we're talking about is based on import. We do not manufacture it in Nigeria. It's not a locally produced product. We import it, we import the booklet, we import the laminate. And for us to sustain the fact that we need to make sure our passports are available, you might like to understand the fact that for the past three months, we've not had any backlog. There hasn't been one. Our backlog has been zero. And that's because passports, booklets have been readily available. We have always. It has not been. We haven't had it this good in terms of having availability of booklets.

Need for Price Adjustment

I was a DCG in passport, and I know the problems we had then, but for us to continue making sure that we have availability of booklets, it was just nothing else to do but to increase our price, because presently the landing cost of one booklet is about 45,000 naira. 45,000 naira. So. And if we now say that we'll continue at that 25 35,000 naira, it just means we keep subsidizing. But for how long we've been, you know, taking money from other areas to pay, to do the subsidy, to do the subsidizing, and it's now affecting other areas and also it's going to affect how available our passports are.

Impact of Price Increase on Service Timeline

So for that not to happen, we just had no choice but to, you know, improve, increase the price. And also don't forget that we have a timeline. We've told Nigerians that the timeline for, you know, for issuing passports or passports to be ready is three weeks for renewal and then eight weeks if you have change of data. For us to maintain that timeline, it means we must have booklets, there must be availability of booklets. And the only way to do that is to improve, to increase our prices so that we can meet up. And don't forget, we have vendors who are bringing these passports.

Ensuring Passport Quality and Integrity

We must pay. We must pay them for the money. They will not do it free of charge. So. And also the quality of our passport in Nigeria. Nigeria has one of the best qualities. And I must tell you that right now, we have. We are actually going to be in Icahl and we have the PKD and the PKI. The PKD is the public key directorate and the PKI is the public key infrastructure. What these two things does for the passport is it improves the integrity of the passport. It means that our passport, a nigerian passport now, can, anywhere in the world, if it's scanned, you can see the digital certificate of the issuing authority.

Preparing for a Global Standard

That means it gives our passport credibility, which is one thing that we never had before. And to do this is not free of charge. We have to pay our dues at Icahu, we have to pay certain fees to actually be uploaded on this directorate, because the directorate is like a reciprocity of all the passports in the world. So now the import ceremony is the directorate where all passports of the world are domiciled in. Before now, Nigeria has not been. We've never been on that directorate. We're not in it. That's why we have issues with.

Challenges with Passport Verification

When we go outside the country, it's difficult for the immigration officers to scan our passport and see if it's genuine or not. They have to call us physically, like make a call and check. Okay. Is this password real? But what we are doing now with the PKD and the PKI, it means our passport is going to be in the directorate, the whole world directorate, the Icahu directorate, where all other countries. We have over 109 countries are in that directorate. So anywhere Nigerians go you can just get your passport scanned and the country there will see the digital certificate that this is an authentic passport or it is nothing.

Enhanced Global Recognition of Nigerian Passports

In a nutshell, what I'm saying is Nigerians can travel easily all over the world. It gives us credibility. And these things are not cheap. It gives us credit. Because even going to obtain visas, these are one of the things that. These are one of the problems that we have when it comes to getting a visa. They have to call the issuing authority, physically make phone calls. But with this PKD and the PKI, what that does for us, we're already in that system. We're already in the directorate. They do not need.

Advancing the Integrity of Nigerian Passports

All they do is just scan your passport and the digital certificates shows. So what we're doing is to upgrade the integrity of our passport. Don't forget that it's the travel document that Nigerians have. It's your national identity. So you must give it all the credibility, you must give it all the, you know, the importance it deserves. And what this PKD and PKI is a milestone that we have done. The import ceremony is going to take place on the 4 September in Montreal. I'll be attending it and it will be the ceremony where we will now hand over our digital certificate to ical.

International Collaboration for Passport Integrity

IcahL will upload a, load it to the whole world. So the whole world will have the identity digital certificate of nigerian passport. It is a wonderful achievement for nigerian immigration, for Nigeria as a country because what that does is our passport has that integrity. It has that authentic. They can authenticate it anywhere, any country, wherever you go to can just scan your passport and know immediately if it's real, if it's fake, if it's, they will, you know, it connects them into our database and it gives them that credibility.

Combating Passport Fraud

They know that, yes, this passport is real or this passport is forged. And what that does again is the fact that we have different cases where non Nigerians are even trying to obtain our passport. This also helps us to checkmate that. So like I said, the increase in price is something we just had to do. It was a difficult decision, honestly, because I know I'm a mother, I know how difficult, you know, the things are now, but for us to continue giving Nigerians the best services and the best passport they can think of, to give them at the right time and also to make sure that we avoid all sorts of undue, you know, whatever.

Appeal for Understanding from the Public

So that's why we decided that we needed to increase the price. The only thing I can say is to appeal to Nigerians to please and please be understanding. I can assure you that our services will make sure that we give you the best in terms of services. And I know one of the worries is the fact that, oh, we're increasing the prices. What if officers are now, you know, they're collecting extra money? What? The only thing I can say in that regard is I beg Nigerians that we have a simple application system.

Transparency in Passport Application Process

Go to our website, upload your documents, make your payments and that's it. You do not need anybody to do that for you. You do not need to give anybody money. If anyone asks you for money, we have the savicon, we have the acTu and then you have the passport control officer. Go to any of these three people, ask, it's your right demand. You want to see the passport control officer and report to that person. Tell him this person please. We encourage you to whistle blue, we encourage you to bring up anyone who asks you for extra money, any of our officers.

Nurturing a Culture of Accountability

But I must also inform Nigerians that going to travel agents and tout is also something I think they should stop doing. It's a very simple platform, we've made it as friendly as possible. Upload your documents, make your payments, book your appointment at the right time, you come to our offices and then you capture. So the process is as seamless as possible. And all I can say is just for you to be patient with us. We know the country is not too, it will get better. It will definitely get better.

Conclusion and Closing Remarks

And also I can tell you that the prices in other countries is not even compared to what we've increased to. I know that's not, that would not be, you know, people will say what's our business with our country? But honestly, nigerian passport price is not that, you know, high in terms of other countries. So my appeal is just to beg Nigerians to please and please bear with us. Thank you very much, Ma. I would like to at this point introduce and also welcome my co host Abe governor. He's a troublesome president and he's always been with us for the past months now that we've been engaging Nigerians with ministers and heads of special initiatives.

Engagement with Key Stakeholders

And I will hand over to him now to introduce honorable, former honorable minister of Youth, Sir Sunday Dari to the floor. Mister Abe, you have the floor. And introduce another minister. I don't know if we can hear. Abby. Yeah. Oops. Hello. Okay, I think, I think you've introduced me already. No, well, we just want to use this opportunity to thank you for all that you have been doing and for the fact, absolutely is national duty, you know.

Bridging the Gap Between Government and People

So thank you very much for all that you have been doing to help us bridge the gap between the people and the government and to also to let our authorities know how imperative, how important it is for us to give account of stewardship to the people, so that when people are trying to use or to exploit their ignorance and their anxiety against the system, you'll be able to be informed to know how to make up their own minds. So thank you very much for the initiative, thank you very much for your steadfastness, for listening, and thank you very much for all that you are, sir.

A Strengthened Immigration Service

Absolutely. Thank you so much. You know, already the CG of immigration has already taken over, which is what is expected. So this is a belated welcome. It's just customary and traditional that welcome you. Misses Kemi Nandap CG immigrations I've listened on. I joined three minutes after 06:00 and I've listened very attentively. And now I have come to understand clearly why the honorable Minister Bomil Joe had no hesitation when I requested that. Can we have you? He said, absolutely.

Acknowledging Achievements and Contributions

And I kind of kept crying for a few seconds and then he said, she's good. There's no question she knows the system quite well. And just listening to you these several minutes is so impressive. Let me also say that when you look at the modern day intelligence and global security system, we must thank the immigrations for plugging Nigeria into the era of big data. We live in an era of big data, an era of automation, precision and digital footprint.

Importance of Immigration in Global Context

And the immigration is so critical, you know, way beyond. I know the customs bring in all the money, but the immigrations and what gives us the footprint we need as global citizens is the quality and the security features of our passports. That's why it's often called alternatively national passport or international passport. And I have traveled the world and I know that to a large extent, your passport is quality.

Advancing Global Recognition and Security

Its been part of the big database they can check at the push of a button. You dont have to wait 3 hours before they confirm that whether youre Nigerian, whether your passport is real or fake, when it takes two minutes or 1 minute, theres a lot of confidence and I think the immigration in its own way is playing human gods role in helping reinforce the nigerian identity and also making sure that we're part of the global digital database.

Community Engagement and Responsiveness

So I want to thank you sincerely for agreeing at a very short notice to be on this platform. Of course we have quite a number of people from divers places and also diverse backgrounds. They will ask you questions, some of them will have suggestions and I'm sure that this of course we call it conversation, but oftentimes I call it crucial conversation because issues that are crucial will come up and then you can always take it from there.

Importance of Public Engagement in Policy

Overall, we believe that having this engagement and conversations with not just the ministers but also key people like you, the CJ that are charged with implementing these initiatives and policies, it's so critical because it gives you the opportunity to engage, it gives you the opportunity to clear certain misconceptions, but also information and powers. There's a lot of assumption on the part of Nigerians, oh, why did immigration do this? Why did customs do this?

Addressing Misconceptions and Transparency

I see in the us government, where I worked for ten years with the Voice of America, a constant stream of information before a government policy is launched, while it is launched and thereafter, and why some information is real time, some of it is on website, you can find it. So ignorance is not an excuse. But also you get to understand, this is why this has taken place. Yesterday I took time to just do a small research to find out the cost of passport across the globe. It interests you that even in Ghana, if you know how much they pay for passports in Ghana, you'll be shocked.

Reiterating the Importance of Understanding

And then when you look at it globally, our passports, even at the new price, you know and I know I shouldn't be making a case for immigration, but I'm also making it on behalf of this government because is all for the good governance that comes from this government. The price of our passport is one of the cheapest and it's still affordable. And I think that we must compliment the immigration service. We're seeing a new dawn and we're happy with that.

Concluding Thoughts and Final Remarks

So once again I want to welcome you. Thank you for your contribution so far. And I'm sure that at the end of this conversation there'll be a better appreciation of the work you do, of the work your team does, the immigration and of the work done by the interior Ministry overall and Nigerians can better appreciate the work that has been done. Thank you very much.

Transitioning to the Q&A Segment

Thank you very much. Honorable Sunday diary. Thank you very much, CG. Madam Kemi Nandep. We're going to be opening the floor for questions but based on my own little knowledge and research, not making a case for the immigration. Like honorable Sunday said, I think Madame Kemi Nadnap has done a lot of good jobs from the days I've known her from the International as a controller of MM two international airport.

Reflecting on Past Successes

There was also a case of the pistol and bullets resulting in the arrest of a us based Nigerian and the attempt of smuggling. Also, I followed her, you know, that did follow up as well when she was also the controller in charge of plane two state command building, both infrastructural and human capital development. So many things, so many good things. So I really don't have a question.

Gratitude for Contributions Made

I had to contact misses Funke Jones, that's my auntie. And she was like, Madam Kemi is an absolutely spot on immigration CG. So thank you very much for coming, ma'am. Thank you very much for having me. Thank you so much. So before you open the floor, Abe, before, I doubt if there's anybody who is human that has anything negative to say about the CGIs of Iran.

Identifying Areas for Improvement

And we feel blessed having. Yuma, I don't know if you have any response to the feedback we got from Honorable Minister Sonidari earlier on before we open the floor, just from what honorable Sondere said that, you know, my takeaway from that is the fact that the PKD and the PKI is actually a very, it's a beautiful thing that we've done. And like he said, it, you know, it brings this acceptability for Nigerians in terms of our travel document all over the world because, you know, before, like he said, it takes, you know, at airports clearance for immigration office for Nigerians.

The Transition to Greater Efficiency

Usually they're there. You have to, you know, your password has to take some minutes before they confirm if it's real or not. But with us now being in the directory, it's just seconds, you just scan it and it's there. So that is really, for me, that's a really, you know, it's a welcome idea for us. So thank you very much, honorable Dari, for appreciating that.

Plans and Milestones

What plans, what milestones are you going to put in place in the next one year? I mean, of course, working alongside the minister to ensure that the process once again is streamlined and that customers, users, nigerian citizens, we get a better experience. The last question I have for you, Ma, is about airport security. I know that NDlea has done a lot of work. They recorded a lot of success in terms of, you know, drugs, people who are attempting to carry cocaine or, you know, all sorts of drugs out of the country. What plans do you have to improve the shoe bag and body search solutions across all our airports in Nigeria? These are the few questions I have for you, Ma. Once again, thank you so much to host Sega and Abe for allowing me to ask these questions. I you the mic. Thank you.

Security Measures

You have the phone, Madam CJ, maybe his network issues. Hello. Thank you. The first question you asked is regarding the number of checks at the airport. Let me state categorically that NIS Niger Immigration service checks just once. Just once. But I would also let you know that there are other agencies at the airport that we do not have control over. And they also have their own mandate, whatever the mandate is. But categorically, NIS checks just once. Having said that, the e gates we're trying to. Which we have installed now, and they'll start, they'll be active, I think, in the next, maybe two, three weeks. Hopefully this will check that, because once you go through the e gate, and as a Nigerian, we'll start with Nigerians for now, and, you know, gradually go into foreigners as well.

Workflow Improvements

But as a Nigerian coming in or going out, you just use the Egate and that's it. And also, I think the answer is trying to see how there's a better workflow in terms of, you know, the agencies at the airport, because there's something called the secondary inspection Unit, ideally anywhere in the world. Immigration is also usually the lead agency at the airport. The other agencies are meant to be secondary, you know, units which they would operate at the back end. If there's any issue, then, you know, they can. They can, you know, be resorted to. But also, we have issues of back of the body camera, which we'll soon be wearing. Our officers will be wearing them with other agencies as well. This will stop the issue of begging that you were talking about.

Professionalism and Training

And I, you know, at the points where the immigration officers stand are usually at the counter and at these counters you have cameras there. So it is very difficult for an officer to beg with the camera on. And now that they will be wearing body cams and we're also doing a lot of training, of re-educating, of giving a new concept in terms of what it is. Service delivery is all about, what professionalism is all about, what an immigration officer is supposed to be. Because whether you like it or not, we're the first people you see when you come into the country and the last people you see when you leave the country. So it is very crucial for us to be of, you know, the credibility for Nigerian immigration officer is very key.

Changing Attitudes

And that is what we're trying to instill in our people. That's what we're trying to. That's the, you know, the training we're trying to instill. It's an ongoing thing. Presently as we speak, we have sensitization that is going on at our airports. You know, the international airports, it's been going on now for like three days. I think they'll be ending it today or tomorrow. So these are all the attitudinal changes we're trying to make sure that we instill in our offices regarding the begging. You know, it were not the only, I'm not trying to make excuses for Nigeria immigration Service, but it is a fact that we are not the only agencies at the airport.

Addressing Misconduct

We are mainly at the counter and we're always in our uniforms. So you can see us clearly with our name tags and all. So it's very difficult. And again, with the body cams we'll be wearing, it'll be very difficult for us. Even if they do that, it will be a thing of the past. I can reassure you that it will be a thing of the past for officers to beg. And I'm sure that no agency would want, you know, their officers to beg is actually a very distasteful thing. And I think, you know, the other agencies are also working on how best to curb these things. But like I said, in terms of, you know, the control checking of the passport, we do it just once.

Improving The Passport Process

Nigerian Immigration Service, we have just one place where we check our passports and it's just done once. Other agencies at the airport, they could also do that, you know, that's up to them. But NIS, we have just one area where we check. And then for the UK, I don't. Well, I would love to say that things are a bit different now, especially with the automation of our systems. And also, in case you don't know, the Nigerians in diaspora, you have that leeway of applying for your renewal a year before it expires. That is a concession we gave to all Nigerians in diaspora. You can renew your passport one year before it expires. So, I mean, one year is a long time for you to reapply.

Encouraging Early Applications

Even if you get the appointment for six or three months, it's more than adequate for you to apply for your passport. But the thing is, Nigerians will always leave their renewal to the last minute and everyone will be like, oh, I need my passport tomorrow, I need it yesterday. We need to change the way we approach such things. I'm not making excuses for, you know, for the activities or for whatever is going wrong, but all I'm saying is there is that you have the right, you have that leeway for you to apply for your renewal, to renew your passport a year before it expires. So the issue of you saying that we don't have.

Passport Renewal Challenges

It's difficult to get your passport done. I think if we actually came to that renewal a year before, it would go a long way to address such issues. And also the contactless, of course, will soon take off in diaspora. That will also help in terms of the difficulty in traveling, the times, the lost man hour, in terms of how long it takes you to get to the embassy to get your passport, because we know it's a lot of traveling time, it's a lot of economic loss in terms of buying tickets, accommodation, all these things add up. But what we're saying is, with the new systems we have in place once the contactless starts.

New Systems Implementation

But of course, contactless is for there are categories of people who can actually apply for the contactless. So it has to be just a renewal that. It has to be just the fact that you want to renew your passport. And I know majority of the people in diaspora usually are renewals. So for once we start that service, it will go a long way to make sure that it's not difficult. And of course there will be home delivery, which we are doing now anyways. But there'll be home delivery option for you to have the passport delivered to you and the contactless where you can sit in the comfort of your home, upload your documents, make your payments, book your, take your biometrics from your phone.

Enhancing Customer Experience

So all these are made. We're putting all these in place to make sure that it's not difficult. You don't lose time, you don't lose work hours, you don't lose money just because you want to renew your passport. We actually feel the fact that people in diaspora have. It's a difficult thing for you. Renew your passport. And that's why we've put some of these things in place to make sure, once the contactless is in place, it'll be easy for you to renew. You can also have the home delivery as well. And we're also making sure that booklets are available so that there's no question of, oh, we don't have booklets or we don't have 32 page, we don't have 64 page.

Availability of Resources

No, booklets will always be available. And these usually are the problems when it comes to, you know, getting your passport is either you don't have booklets or maybe the appointment. Another thing is, of course, the appointment time for now, we've increased the number of appointments. UK can take the day. It used to be 150, but we've opened up the appointment now to make it 200. We did that, I think, added to the 150. So in UK now you can take. They can take 350 applicants daily. So that is what we've done to make sure that people don't have this issue of having to wait a long time or you come and you wait at the embassy, we want you to have, you know, to come in and the atmosphere is relaxed and you're comfortable.

Streamlining the Process

It's not as if you're queuing at the, you know, at the entrance of the embassy. It's really a very sad sight to see Nigerians queuing outside the embassy. So we try to make sure that we take those things away by making sure you apply online. Once you do that, all you do is just come to the embassy and capture. And very soon again, the capturing will now be, you can do it at the comfort of your home. Once it's contactless, you can do the capturing at the comfort of your home. So you have no business coming to the embassy, no business whatsoever.

Digitization of Processes

You capture the comfort of your home. If you want home delivery, it's delivered to you, or if you rather want to pick it at the embassy, it's your call. So we're trying to make sure that no matter what, we make it as, you know, as pleasant an experience as possible for Nigerians. And it's a work in progress. We'll just, we'll keep getting better and better. And we'll always want Nigerians to give us feedback. What is it we're doing? What do you want improved? And if anybody hasn't served you well, please let us know.

Feedback and Accountability

We have feedback mechanisms, we have numbers you can call, we have emails you can send messages to. We have a 24 hours passport management response team that would listen and sort whatever problems we have that citizens have both in diaspora and locally in Nigeria. I know it's not something we can solve totally, but at least we'll make sure that to the best of our knowledge and to the best of our ability, we'll try and make sure that Nigerians do not have a nasty experience when it comes to passport. But the fact still remains that we also have responsibilities. Nigerians also must do what they need to do.

Shared Responsibilities

You must apply the right way. You must, you know, don't give people money to do your passport. It's a simple thing. Go online, apply, make your payment, book your appointment and show up. So I want to also appeal to Nigerians. Like I said, please, let's all play our part. That's the only way that we can make progress. Thank you. Thank you very much, Madam CG. We're going to move to the next speaker. Let's take Madam Root. Thank you very much, Governor Abe. Thank you. Good evening, everyone.

Questions about Online System

Thank you for the opportunity. Okay, so I have a straight question, but I wonder if you can tell us, you know, how long we should expect, you know, the online payment to be down. I don't know if you have said something about it before I joined the room, but I wonder if you can just assuage, you know, the way we're feeling right now and just tell us, maybe give us some timeline of how long the system will be down or when we should expect it to be back up. But my question is, and I must really say that the website and interface is actually very simple.

User Interface Feedback

Like you said, I want to agree to that. It's very simple to use. The only challenge sometimes is, you know, your kind of power. They wanted a particular size and so you would have to ensure that it's that particular size before it pulls through. But my question is, why do you, why does a website remove your application? I don't know for how long it takes, but after some time, if it has not been attended to, the website automatically deletes everything. And so I was thinking that, you know, you go through that whole process of having to fill the application and of course, all sensitivity and everything, and then if you come back, I don't know how long, but then your application just completely disappears.

Technical Challenge of Application Removal

You can't find it, so you have to go back and start again. So I was thinking that is a bit of a challenge. I wonder if it is a problem if your application stays on for as long as it can stay. I don't know. And then finally, just to paint a scenario, you said that we should whistle blue and also if we have issues, demand for the passport officer and report anyone. My friend had an issue. He applied for passport online.

Real-Life Scenarios

He, of course he went for his interview and so as he was leaving, they asked him who invited you? He said no, he applied online. They now said, okay, no problem. The next time he came, after he had captured and everything, he came for his passport. They said his file had gotten missing. He was like, he doesn't understand. They said, well, they couldn't find the file, that he has to start the process again. He had to now pay physically and start the process again.

Concerns on Immigration Services and Security

What is the immigration services, Nigerian Immigration Services doing to curtail and protect us from terrorists that have any nefarious intentions in attacking soft targets, smuggling of small arms fire to arm some of our own local terrorists and bandits? What is the Nigerian immigration services doing? Any specifics that you can give us that are not classified? Thank you very much. And Mister Abe, I wanted to call your attention to something. Somebody was saying that there's a vulnerability in the Nigerian immigration service systems. He's been asking for the mic. His name is Gabriel. He could explain better, but I don't know more. That's all I'll say. Thank you. Okay, I'm going to bring Gabriela up before Madame CG, you know. Answer the question. Smuggling is under NCS custom. Nigerian Customs Services. Immigration is for protecting immigrants. Immigration services. So I'll let Madam CG answer your question. Terrorists can hide between images.

Border Control and Management Strategies

I know you did not. That's fine, Madam CJ, go ahead, Ma. Thank you very much for that question. Like you said, NIS, where our mandate is strictly border control, border management, border security, and these we have done. You know, when I came on board, the first thing I did was tour our borders, especially the ones at the north with corridors with Niger, Chad and Benin. And the reason why I did that was just to get a firsthand knowledge of what we have on ground, in terms of the facilities, what my men were dealing with and what we have, what's on ground, what's the problem? And what I came up with was the fact that we needed to rejig our infrastructure. We needed to rejig training of our officers. And of course, we needed technology, which we have now deployed. We have done a lot of deployment.

Technology and Surveillance at Borders

In terms of technology, we have about 114 border crossing points in Nigeria legally. And out of those borders, about 86 of that has been deployed. We have deployed the IV's. That's the intelligence video surveillance system. We've deployed that now to over 86 of our borders. And what that does is that our officers, they have better control in terms of the surroundings at the border, especially the border at the Niger border, that corridor, Elela Kebi, state and also, of course, Mfon and Seme. And what we did was also to make sure that we have more boots on ground. We did a lot of deployment. We redeployed a lot of people. We increased our patrol. We increased surveillance. And it has yielded a lot of benefits, has yielded a lot of results because we have in our custody a lot of non-Nigerians who come into the country irregularly.

Repatriation Efforts

And we've had a lot of repetition. We've done close to all of a nationwide. We've had in the next, in the past few weeks, we've done close to 100 or so, I think, about 112 non Nigerians that have been repatriated to their various countries, like from Cameroon. We've had people from Cameroon, from Niger, from Burkina Faso. We've had to return them. So a lot, my men are doing a lot in terms of keeping our borders safe, in terms of making sure that our borders are well secured. We have, like you said earlier in the program, that we've deployed a lot of vehicles. We've given vehicles to the borders. And two days ago, I had a meeting with all the commanders and the controllers at the border.

Engagement with Communities and Intelligence Sharing

And the purpose of that meeting I had with them was just to make sure there's enough intel between us and them. And we've also set up, we've told each and everyone to set up a desk officer at, you know, the communities because what we have now is not just border management, it's border governance. We've incorporated the border communities and also improved upon anti interagency synergy because it's a collective effort, even though we are the, you know, the critical agency mandated to monitor our borders and control the borders. We still need to do it in conjunction with other sister agencies as well, which we're doing very well. And the border communities, they've been very responsive, our desk officers. It has yielded a lot of intel generation and intel sharing.

Monitoring and Response to Illegal Immigration

And I'll let you know that just a couple of days ago, we had the intel that some non Nigerians were actually in the country illegally. And the purpose was very questionable. And this intel was given to us by the community. So this engagement we're having with them is actually yielding a lot of results. We're getting a lot of intel because these people come into the community and they live amongst them. So we need them to tell us who's amongst them. They know who is not part of who, you know, who's coming into the community, who is not part of them, who's not from that community. They can detect them because they are, you know, they are there. So they've been giving us intel, which has been very fruitful.

Addressing Vulnerabilities on Immigration Platforms

And this has resulted in a lot of. A lot of repatriation of non Nigerians with questionable character. Some of it, despite the ecosystem, you know, treaty and the ECOWAS protocol, non Nigeria, I mean, ECOWAS citizens must still come into the country with valid documents. The ECOWAS protocol doesn't say you can come in without travel document. That is not what it says. So we make sure that even if you're ECUOS, you must come in with the. With the right document. And what we have now done in terms of. Of monitoring as well. Not just that, but we also have a squad, a specialized border squad, which will soon start, the training will soon start.

International Collaboration and Future Improvements

And it might interest you to know that just two or three weeks ago, we had a tour in America. We went to us to have a good collaboration with the us government in terms of border management, border governance, and, you know, the surveillance patrol, it was a very fruitful engagement. And in the coming weeks, I think we'll see the fruit of that engagement. I'll keep that on hold for now until things unfold. But I can tell you that it's a good thing for our border management. We've seen the kind of systems they've deployed and we can also leverage on that. And that is what we're doing to make sure that the border governance is a holistic approach.

Command and Control Center Enhancements

We have a forward operational basis, which we're trying to bring up. We're rejigging that, we're renovating and bringing that up. We have a command and control center, which gives us real time of what is happening at the borders, not just the airport, but also the land borders as well. We see what's happening there 24 hours time. And we also have a forward operational basis, which can make sure that response time is as quick as possible in terms of any issue, if they have any case they need to respond to. And also, of course, there's the video surveillance, which gives us a very good view of, you know, kilometers away from the border.

Enhanced Border Security and Surveillance

So you can actually gauge what's coming to you. What that does is the officers have adequate time to respond to what, either to call up, call for backup, or to go check what is happening. And the vehicles, of course, are there to aid patrolling and surveillance. So all these together is giving us a better. It's giving us better, you know, security in terms of manning the borders. It has been a very good response in terms of what we have gotten. We've gotten a lot of non Nigerians, of course, and they know we also collaborate, of course, with the country, with our neighbors, because that's one aspect we never used to do.

Synergy with Neighboring Countries

We have good synergy with them, especially this regional aspect. We talk with our neighbors to make sure that we're on the same page. Like during the Niger jailbreak, we had issues where we had. We apprehended about five, you know, niche rings that were actually part of the criminals that escaped, and we handed them over to the, you know, to the Nigerian, to our neighbors. So it's been a good collaboration with even the neighbors as well. So, like I said, it's a holistic approach we're looking at. That's what we do. It's not just officers patrolling the borders only, but we have technology, of course.

Community Involvement and Dialogue

And there's also regional. There's cooperation with our neighbors and, of course, and the border communities themselves, because they give us a lot of intel. They give us a lot of their hosts. They are landlords, so we live amongst them. So it's crucial for us to have a good relationship. And, you know, the fact that our borders are very contiguous, you have, you know, the relationship between both is very. Both countries, you know, the two countries neighboring each other is very delicate. So we need these communities to be able to tell us who is who. And, you know, that has been happening, and it will continue to happen because we'll continue to engage them, will continue to make sure that we have a good relationship with the borders community, the border communities, and also, of course, with our neighbors as well.

Communication and Reporting Vulnerabilities

We engage them a lot. So I think in terms of our borders being secure, yes, we're on the right path. Thank you very much, Madam. CG Gabriel, you said you have an important message so can you just shoot a 1 minute because I had to make you jump the queue. Ay said he had something about the immigration website breach. Gabriel please go ahead. 1 minute. Yeah. Good evening everyone and good morning or good afternoon whichever region they are signaling thank you so much for the opportunity Madame Kemi thank you so much too as well. My name is Suma Holland Gabriel and I'm a penetration tester and also a bug bounty.

Critical Data Exposures on Immigration Website

Now I noticed a critical data exposure on the Nigeria immigration website. Madam Kem, you spoke on whistleblowing and to be candid I reached out to the email on the Nigeria immigration website and it's quite unfortunate that even on this Twitter space your dm it's not open to as well. I think I did some tweets on some of the posts your platform did on the change in passport and all of that. I noticed a critical vulnerability on your website which exposes applicants' credentials which is against the data protection framework and I don't know how to report this vulnerability so your IT or security team can quickly remediate this issue. However, I already sent a proof of concept video about this vulnerability and also a documented reports but this is getting to two weeks also there has not been any reply from your team and the vulnerability is still on the website.

Request for Communication Channels

Thank you so much. I don't know how to report this. If your DM can be open to send your IT team's email for me to, you know, send the po proof of concept of how I discovered this vulnerability and also a documented reports to your IT team or cybersecurity team to remediate this vulnerability. Thank you. Thank you very much Mister Gabriel. Madam Cg you have the mic ma'am. Thank you very much Mister Gabriel. Yes I would love for you to share that with us. I would be very interested in that. I don't know where you've reported these art but let me give you if I can I write out my.

Concern Over Security and Follow-Up

Maybe I should call out my personal email. No that's not fair Madam CJ you can just reach out to me via DM because we have a whole lot of people on this space and you don't know if they can exploit or send you a maybe. Madam CG, you can dm your email to Mister Sega and then Sega will pass it over to distinguished Sega. Doctor Sega incoming Professor Sega and then we can. Sega can pass it over to Gabriel. Madam CG go ahead Ma. Mic check. Yeah, I can hear you. I think our mic is muted. Madam CJ, can you unmute your mic? Ma, maybe she has network issues.

Technical Difficulties and Communication Issues

Okay, so while we wait for the CG to return to us, we need to close the space, because we. He has a meeting to attend right now, and she has a meeting to attend right now. And we are trying as much as possible to make sure that by 08:00 as promised, she is allowed to quickly attend to that crucial meeting that has been pre-scheduled. So pending the time, I think there's a network problem. Mic is muted, so I'm just waiting for her to be able to unmute her mic, and then she will respond to us. But pending that time, if you have any question whatsoever, you can leave it in the proper pill.

Ensuring Proper Communication and Closing Remarks

And I can assure you that the immigration team will respond to that question directly after this session, every question will be answered, and I will also go through them myself to ensure I call their attention to the question directly so that they can answer. I don't want to keep her beyond 2 hours because she's still working as we speak. And, I just want to. Okay, I'm trying to see why. Abe, did you use mutual? Can you. Can you, sir, did you use mutual? I think I did use mutual, because I'm. People were going back and I don't know what's happening.

Resolving Communication Challenges during the Session

So don't use the. Well, I don't know whether it has affected, you know, because right now she's. But she can speak. She can mute and Mike and speak because she's cold. She can. Oh, yeah. I can mute calls. Exactly. So, you know. But. Okay, let's continue with the question, Mister Gabriel. Send your. You can DM. Just one, Mister Gabriel. You can dm your question to Sega, or you can send it to. His DM is. DM is not open.

Final Arrangements and Closing of the Session

His DM is not open. And I had to quickly speak, so, madame CJ, don't. Okay, my DM is. My DM is. My DM is open. I can't send you. I can't send you a DM. I can't send you a DM. Gabriel, you can send me a DM. Don't worry. My DM is open. I can send you a DM too, as well. Maybe you can just reach out. Okay, I've sent you a DM, mister Gabriel. No problem, sir. So you can reply, my dear. I sent.

Transitioning into Further Discussions

Hi, my dear. Your dear. Okay, you got it. All right, cool. Thank you very much. So let me bring Madam speaker back up. Madam CG, where's Madame CJ? She's coming back up now. Please, I have a complaint. Mine is more than a question. That's why I'm waiting for her. Sega, please go ahead, Babalola, before she comes. No, no, she has. It's a complaint, not just a hearsay question. She's not here.

Continuing Engagement during Technical Delays

Okay, let's wait. Just hold on. Just hold on. There's no time. I think everybody should just say what he wants to say. Then she can attend to it later. All right, I think we have her back now. Welcome back, madam. Apologies, man. Yes. Sega, can you hear her? Sega? Okay, you can unmute now. She can unmute now. Okay. Maka, you on mute? Madden, can you hear Madam CG, distinguish?

Session Wilting as Participants Attempt Communication

I can't hear. I think she's saying muted by host and I didn't use. There's nobody muted here. Nobody muted. But she's a host now, so she can speak now. Tell her to click the mic. huh. To click the mic. Maybe she doesn't know. You can click the mic now, Madame CGdev, you could unmute the mic. Bottom left hand corner, ma'am. Distinguish over to you.

Madam CG's Response on Operational Strategies

I can hear you, distinguished. Hello? Yes, Ma, go ahead. Welcome back, Ma. We can hear you, Ma. We can hear you now. Ma, I think the network is playing tricks on us. No, she muted. I have one question, please, doctor Sega. Okay, everybody should just throw in their questions. So by the time she comes back, she will give a general response and then the other technical questions can go into the message. I will ensure it gets to her.

Public Concerns regarding Immigration Services

Okay? Good afternoon. Good evening everyone. My name is Imran Aruna. I'm calling from FCT. I have heard Martin since from the beginning of this program. She has spoken well about the achievement of the service and all that. And my question here is that I have a friend of mine who we employed in 2023, and they are always busy complaining that they never pay them their seven month salary areas. So I want Ma to tell me what's going on. So that's my question. Thank you very much.

Feedback on Customer Service Issues

Thank you very much. We're wrapping up in the next few minutes and I really need. And I don't know if the mic of CGIS is on. Mister Babalawa, you can go ahead with your question. Okay, I'm certain she can hear me. Thank you very much. Segalink. Abigail. Governor. Thank you, madam, for being here. Just a quick one. From my personal experience, I've been trying to do some my passport renewal.

Challenges Encountered with Passport Services

Then I made a couple of changes which I did online. And as a matter of fact, I was asked to link my NIN to upload the information on my nin to the new passport information I wanted, which was what I did and did all the requirements, submitted everything, and it was accepted. And I was called up for capturing, which I went for, and everything went smoothly. There were times I didn't understand what next to do. I reached out to the customer care number. Their response was fantastic.

Navigating the Passport Renewal Process

And at a point when the delay came, I reached out to the customer care again and they directed me to, and which I made a formal complaint. And at the servicom, I was made to understand that still when it comes to the issue of change of data, like maybe your date of birth or name or whatever, that you can do all those formalities online, everything still has to go through the formal, usual process. So which I did, and they, you know, tried a couple of things to help everything, you know, get sorted out. There were still some difficulties.

Concerns over System Inefficiencies

Then I was worried, like, this is not, you know, what we are hearing and stuff like that. Then he made me understand that if I was doing a new passport, my passport could be out in two weeks or I'm doing in regular renewal. I'm not changing any data, any information that, yes, the passport could be out in two weeks, but if you're changing information, you know, it could take longer. So I inquire from a couple of immigration officers at the passport office, specifically the headquarters here in Abuja, the office that's supposed to be the headquarters and speaking, you know, under confidentiality, you know, they told me a couple of things.

Operational Issues with the Savvicon System

Yeah, I'm aware that Iris is the company that is in charge of our database as regards the Nigerian passport. But during the renewal, during my inquiry, I got to realize that the Savicon is the face of the immigration department and it is the place we go to lodge our complaint. So basically it is the face. And in the Savcon, particularly at the headquarters, the encrypted computer system that they were given has been bad for months. So currently you go to Savvcon, you lodge complaint. They are basically helpless.

Feedback from the Public on Service Quality

They just collect whatever complaint. They just put it down on paper and still have to go to glass house to submit your complaint and, you know, get a ticket in so that your complaint can be addressed. So a customer care department still has to go to the glass house, you know, to make changes or correction or help people with, you know, technical glitch or whatever like that, you know. So basically I'm passing this information if madam can still hear? The encrypted computer system that Iris company provided for them has been bad for months.

Community Feedback on Immigration Challenges

I went there to lodge complaints, and Savvycom, they couldn't do anything. And a lot of people, not just only me, a lot of people are facing the same issue. Currently, my passport is saying status unknown, and this has been the case for months. So I just thought I should put this out there. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Rabbalola, I'm trying to bring Madam CJ up. She's in the audience. Madam CG, please.

Awareness of System Issues

I can kindly accept the request. Yeah. Yes, I can hear you. We're trying to bring you up. I don't know if you can see the request. I'm supposed to have released you by now, and also if you have any, like mister. Okay. Yes. I can hear you, ma. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Can I hear you? Yes, ma'am, we can hear you, ma'am. Please go ahead.

Efforts to Address Technical Issues

I think she can hear you, the co-host, but we can all hear you, ma. Okay. Okay. I think it's echoing. Interesting. Okay, so, I didn't quite hear everything he said, but from the little I got, it's delayed. Yeah, delayed. Yes, ma'am, we can hear you, ma'am. Go ahead. Go ahead, ma'am. Hello? Go ahead. We can hear you, ma'am.

Addressing Technical Concerns

We can hear you. Go ahead. Okay, so he talked about Savvicon, first of all. First of all, I don't know what problem. I didn't really. I didn't hear what he talked. What the problem at. Hello? Okay, I'm sending you another request, so it will be different. Can you accept the co-host request? They are sending you a co-host request. Sorry, oga.

Public Engagement with Immigration Officials

Sega, while they are teeth, anybody can also raise their questions so that maybe you can just lump it together and give it your. Okay. Yeah. While we are here, like I said, if you have, like, what Mister Babalola shared is more or less like a petition on. Okay, yeah, she's back now. Yes, ma'am. Okay, good. So, like I said, I didn't quite. I didn't understand.

Importance of Transparency in Communication

I didn't get what happened, what. What issue he had. But the little I heard, he talked about Servicom, the system not working. First of all, servicom is not supposed to resolve your problem. You just make. You just lodge your complaints with them. We have the epms. That's a unit that does, you know, that's the technical unit that resolves the problem issues we have with passports.

Clarifying Roles of Immigration Services

And it's nothing. The iris staff, well, I mean, it's done in conjunction with the NIS staff. So whatever. I don't know what issue he said he had because he said the passport says status unknown. So if probably he could tell me because I think the line went off. So I couldn't really hear what he said. I only heard him talking about Cervicom, the system not working. We've updated all our systems regarding, you know, servicom.

Improving System Security and Customer Service

So I don't think I maybe that was a while back, I don't know, when he went and he said the system was not working and, but like I said, servicom is not supposed to resolve your problem. They just take, they note what the problem is and pass it on to the unit, the technical unit that would resolve whatever problem you have. But if you can actually reach out to us again or reach out, I mean, lodge whatever problem you have on the website, on the Twitter, it will be resolved.

Relaying Information for Resolution

You know, we'll look into it and see what the problem is right now as we speak. If you can just give me. So that right now, as we're speaking, we can actually find out, because I have a technical team with me here, they can check what the problem is with his passport. Okay. Yes, I'm going to keep, I'm going to try and send you the ticket number that was sent to me by the immigration officer handling it, Servicom.

Addressing Delays in Passport Services

So I just did that now to your inbox. And basically he, according to him, he said status unknown. So he said, that's the status of my passport right now, you know, and like I said earlier, while I started the whole process, it was online. And I did, you know, quite a number of changes. And I was able to submit, I linked my nin data with, you know, the new passport I'm applying for, and it went through.

Encountering Technical Issues with Process Changes

But on getting to passport office, after my capturing, I was told no changes was affected. That was affected. And that is not just me. When it comes to change of data, that you can actually do it online, you still have to come in person. And which I started the whole process, you know, with them at servicom all over again. And, you know, this is where we are for months now.

Describing System Instabilities and Customer Impact

And as I speak to you, even before I came online to speak, I called again to some of these guys, not the one handling my passport, but some of the guys at Servicom and they are saying the encrypted. The iris encrypted computer system that they used to work with before is no longer working. They have complained and it is still nothing been replaced. It has not been replaced as I. Before I came on speaker's section this night, on this Twitter, they say it is not working.

Identifying Causes of Status Unknown for Passports

Here are the. Okay. The reason for status unknown could be. And you know, it could be various reasons. It could be that your name, the name we have, the name you've given us is nothing corresponding with what we have for you on the system. There are many. It could be inconsistency in some of. In the data you've given or that you haven't paid for change of data. Because if you do it online, and first of all, doing it online is actually just for you to log what you want done.

Final Notes on Administrative Processes

The administrative aspect of it will also be done in Abuja. It will be done at the headquarters. So. But the team, they're actually working on it now to find out what the problem is. If you can also send us your enrollment number, that would. Yes. That would make it faster. Yes. So it was a change of data you wanted done, right? A change of data, yes.

Engaging with Technical Support Teams

And which, according to the man at the servicom, he said, yeah, that has been done. And I will send you the details. He was just. It's actually. I think if it says status unknown, then it's just probably some inconsistency in the data you have submitted in probably one of the breeder documents. But like I said, it's been checked right now and we'll see what the issue was. Thank you very much, Madam CG. So let's move on, because Madam CJ has like a few minutes left.

Maintaining Open Lines of Communication

She has to go for Mister Gabriel. You can send your request to Sega. And maybe Sega will forward you Madam CG's email for the website. Ver alleged delete website verification breach, madam, we're handling that already. Madame Esther, grandma. Welcome. You can unmute your mama, grandpa to be waiting to happen. Good morning, madame Esther. You are marginalizing me too.

Summarizing Participant Engagement

It's all good. Good evening. I was here before every one of you. Don't worry. I was just giving my plants food. Thank you very much, ma'am, for coming. Madame, I actually. Most of the question that I wanted to ask is already been asked, so. Actually. And I think you have done justice to all the questions.

Seeking Better Immigration Procedures

But what I want to understand is this, Ma, can't there be a way where you said the three. Apart from the NIS, there are two other agencies that go on. It's like four. They search you when you are going in and why don't they create a but a database whereby once that passport is be scanned, there's no. Three people start scared, three different people start scanning you when you're going out, when you're coming in.

Discussion on Security and Efficiency in Immigration

I think when you are coming in is the same and when you're going out is the same. But the worst part of it is when you are going outside. I mean, leaving Nigeria outside, that is where the annoyance is more. And I don't know how we can. Nigeria immigration can help this thing and make it that when we go in, we go through one system and everybody, all the agency, I mean, the immigration agents apart from the NIS, can just come through just once.

Efficiency Improvements and Collaboration

And if you are wanted by the DSS, you are wanted by the FC, EFCC and the rest, if you just flag them, I think that will make it a bit easier than three different people looking at your passport. I mean, madame Esther, what's the question, grandma? That's the question. Okay, Madam CJ, did you get a question, ma, so we can just quickly move on? Yes, thank you.

Integration of Immigration Agencies

I understand what Madam Esther is trying to say or what she's. It still boils down to technology and what we have deployed is the e-gate. The e-gate will be would solve this issue because like I said, the e-gate is linked to the command and control, which is online twenty four seven. And we also have the unit called the secondary inspection unit.

Enhancements in Operational Protocols

The secondary inspection unit is a unit that consists of all the other secondary agencies, like the customs, the NDLEA, the fan, the port health, and all the other agencies that are working at the airport that need some form of data or the other. Once the e-gate is up and running, NIS will be the lead agency, scans the passport. If there's any issue, it will come up at the secondary unit, which is where the data will be distributed.

Coordination among Immigration Services

Any agency who needs to pull the data from that can do that, you know, at ease. So that is what we're working towards. Gradually, we'll get to a stage where the secondary inspection unit will be operational and the NSA is the coordinating agency of all, you know, agencies like ours, Fan, AppSec, customs. NSA is our coordinating body, and this is what we're working to.

Operational Procedures and SOP Development

And they are also in accordance, or rather in agreeance with us, that we need to start operating the SIU. That's the secondary inspection unit. We're still in the process of generating our SOPs and to see who does what? Because that's very crucial. For it to succeed, for it to be a success, there has to be an operational SOP which is being worked upon so that every agency will know and from the command and control, of course, this information will be dissipated to all the necessary agencies.

Two-Way Flow of Information

Not only will we dissipate to them, we will also pull from them so that if DSS has anybody who they want, who they need to watch list or they need anyone who is of who they need to question, will pull those information from them. And once the person comes, that passport will be flagged and it will give, you know, us that will now make it a seamless, you know, workflow.

Addressing Workflow and Security Checks

The workflow will be a lot better where passengers are not subjected to multiple passport checks. It's, the e-gate will solve a lot of that problem. And like I said, it's going to be operational very soon. Everything's, you know, all the processes are being implemented. We're putting so many things in place to make sure that we start redeploy it as quickly as possible. And once that is done, it will solve this issue of multiple checks, hopefully.

Collaborative Efforts with Security Agencies

And like I said, the NSA is our coordinating body and they are also, we work together. We've been having meetings and trainings. And I, and with the body cam, you know, with the body cam will be wearing, the command and control will be, will have all this information so that they don't have to be on ground. Any. Any information they need will be sent to our own system.

Data Sharing and System Enhancements

Whatever we need to, will be sent. Whatever we need or whatever we get, we'll send to them. So it's going to be like a feedback system. It's going to be a two-way flow. They get from us, we get from them. So it's work in progress and we know what we need to do and we'll get there. And it's just a question of time, really, because all the equipment are on ground and we're working on all the necessary procedures, the SOPs and the necessary different levels.

Security Measures and Access Levels

And there'll be different levels of access, of course. So it's just going to be on a need to know basis. There are lots of security checks that will be put in place. We'll be drawing from different database, different criminal database, so that, you know, not national security is not compromised as well. So like I said, the e gate will be the solution to all this because it will make clearance not only seamless, but national security will be enhanced as well. That way, people of interest or people who are not supposed to will be apprehended and you know it will. They'll be dealt with. I don't know if I have answered your question.

Overview of NIS Responsibilities

You have? Yes, ma'am. Wait, Madame Esther. She has to go. So just. Sorry about that, Madame Esther. Honor. Thank you very much Madam CG for coming. I just want to ask one professional question and then my distinguished or I, Gasega will give the vote of text. We know the NIS, the primary responsibility, you know, under the section two of the Immigration act amended 2015 is to control persons entering and leaving Nigeria. Issuance of passport documents like travel document, passport to bonafide Nigerians within and outside the shores of Nigeria. Also even the issue has a permits to foreigners coming into Nigeria.

Border Security Challenges in Nigeria

However, there's an issue of border patrol officers in Nigeria. And you spoke eloquently about the border patrol in the United States conference you went for, which I was aware of. But we know the border security challenges existed in Nigeria. It could be complex, it could be by maybe poverty, lack of good governance, some people might say corruption, chronic armed conflicts in our, you know, borders, national borders, harm, banditry, porous border security and transnational crimes amongst west African Sahel countries surrounding us. Now the question goes, what is the Nigerian immigration Service doing? And you also spoke about the threat to national security which is, you know, far fetched. And under President Bola Amitinobu's mandate, under President Bola, I made Tinubu's mandate. How is the NIS doing in regards to job creation for the Nigerian youth?

Increased Personnel and Training

Thank you. Over to you. Thank you very much, Doctor Seydon. You know, the president has actually given us an approval to improve, to increase our staff strength, the personnel strength of NIS. It was a gracious approval. And very soon, of course, we'll start our deployment, we'll start our employment procedures. And what this has done is improved. The fact that the control of borders will be properly done, will be manned by well trained officers, competent officers. Because once we improve, we increase the number of boats we have on ground, then we have better surveillance, better patrol and better monitoring, not just at the borders, but also monitor before entry, after entry and even before at the point of entry as well. So we'll have three very strong levels of monitoring before at the borders and then after, you know, entry.

Recruitment and Training Initiatives

So with this new recruitment, we've been approved to recruit over close to 10,000 officers. So that is a game changer for us because whether we like it or not, our borders are quite expansive and we need more than enough hands. We need a lot of boots on ground for us to make sure that the job is properly done and with the approval that the president has given us it will go a long way to make sure that these borders are properly secured. And during our trip to the US we realized that despite there is the use of technology but human capacity is also inevitable. Human capacity is definitely one of the key issues in terms of border security and that came to light during this trip we had and when talks with them in terms of the training we've made very good contacts and I think by the coming week or two that would give way to a lot of things.

Collaboration with International Partners

Terms of the training we're working on an MOC with them, with the American government and we're also working with our other international partners like the UNODC, IOM, ICMPD. These are all our partners in training, all, you know, our officers at the border. We also have the, not just the border drill but the border patrol. These are different categories, different aspects of border management, different layers of the officers that are posted to the border. And the training we are going to do now the special border corps is we have about 4000, no, 5000 officers right now that we have collated. Their names are on ground. We're just waiting for the agreement to go. We have other agencies we're working with. It's going to be a joint training. We're going to co opt other major stakeholders.

Recruitment Plans and Future Strategies

So the training is going to be very robust and it will give room for employment of Nigerians as well. I know that a lot of Nigerians have been inquiring, asking questions about our recruitment. Very soon we'll make sure, we'll make it known when we're going to start the recruitment and I think it will put us in a better stead in terms of managing our borders and ensuring that security of Nigeria is guaranteed. Another agencies we have synergy with, we have the Interpol, the Europol, Frontex, these are all agencies where we do training in terms of intelligence gathering, risk analysis and border management as well. So we are working very hard to make sure that our borders are safe. And like I said with the approval of the president is actually a game changer for us because this year alone we are going to be recruiting and the recruitment we are going to do this year is going to be specialized recruitment because we're opening up the directorates.

Specialized Recruitment and Job Opportunities

We're going to need specialized people and we're going to request for, you know, it's not just going to be employment as usual. It has to be, you know, specialty based, I think. Thank you very much, Matt. You're welcome. I'm going to hand over to my big brother second distinguished Sega leagues. Thank you for coming. May God be with you and may you do more for Nigerians to secure our borders. My name is Abe, governor, and I yield the mic to distinguish Sega. Thank you very much Abe, for managing the mic and I want to say that we are really blessed having the CGIs of immigration coming. It is deeply appreciated that the Comptroller General of Immigration has taken the time to directly engage with Nigerian people by coming forward to address critical questions.

Commitment to Transparency and Public Engagement

The CGIs demonstrates a commendable commitment to transparency and ensuring clear public understanding of the operations and services provided by the immigration authority. Too often, government agencies are and their leaders remain, detached from the citizenry, thereby having a problem with proactively interfacing with Nigerians and opening a dialogue. But our CGIs today has broken that jinx. It has allowed for valuable insight into the experiences and the concerns of the populace. And this reciprocal flow of information is essential for an immigration system that properly serves the needs of the nation. The immigration process can be complex. There can be a lot of things, you know, that needs explanations that need to walk through and for a lot of people.

Importance of Direct Clarification and Trust

But having the opportunity to receive direct clarification on procedures, on requirements and rationale from the highest level of leadership helps demystify the process. So when authorities take such efforts to explain the rudiments of their operations, it engenders greater trust and cooperation from the public. Even though we may not be able to take all the questions, we ensure that there will be a rapid fire of engagement or response to all the questions in the pop up bill, in the comment section, and also through DM's that we receive from people going forward. And I believe that the strategic communication of the system will beefed up also, such that if complaints comes in through any means, it will be strictly done so.

Open Governance and Accountability

This is a laudable initiative that aligns with the principles of open governance and accountability that all public institutions should uphold. It sets a positive example for other agencies to follow and in prioritizing public engagement and as a core operating tenet, Nigerians can have greater confidence that the immigration system exists to facilitate their interests when its leadership displays this level of acceptability and responsiveness. Thank you very much, Ma, for coming. Thank you very much for making history. Thank you very much for chartering this glass ceiling. And at this point, we want to have your parting words for Nigerians.

Parting Words and Closing Remarks

Thank you, Ma. Back to you. Thank you very much, doctor. It's been an honor to be on this conversation. And I completely agree with you that this is something we should do more often. Because if we don't talk to people, we don't talk to each other, then we don't know what the problem is. We can't solve each other's problem. And the administration we have now is an administration that is very listens. And I want Nigerians to know that we're here to serve them. That's our purpose. That's what we aim to do.