FG unveils rapid-response mobile teams against transnational crimes

Federal Government on Tuesday took a decisive step against irregular migration and transnational crimes with the launch of the “Mobile Teams MT Nigeria Project.”

The initiative aims to transform border patrol into a high-tech, rapid-response operation capable of monitoring the nation’s vast and porous frontiers.

The project, backed by the Migration Partnership Programme of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development ICMPD, was cemented during the inauguration of the Project Steering Committee at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS in Abuja.

With Nigeria sharing over 4,000 kilometres of land borders and an 853-kilometre coastline, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, emphasized that traditional policing is no longer sufficient.

Represented by Deputy Comptroller General DCG in charge of Visa and Residency, Dr Franca Usiwoma Nwanneka, the CGIS noted that the “Mobile Teams” are designed to be flexible, elite units equipped with modern technology to penetrate high-risk and difficult terrains.

She said “Nigeria’s geographical expanse presents unique border management challenges. Effective surveillance and control require modern equipment and adequate resources. The support provided through the Mobile Teams Project is therefore timely, as it will significantly enhance the Service’s patrol and operational capabilities.”

The project will see immigration officers undergo advanced training to operate as specialized units that can respond to emerging security threats while strictly adhering to international human rights standards.

Nandap noted that the Netherlands has been a consistent partner, previously providing “Edison Software License Keys” and the “Passport Examination Programme Manual” to curb identity fraud.

“The Government of the Netherlands has also supported the Hostmanship Programme, which has now been institutionalized within the Service. This initiative has positively impacted our operations, particularly in projecting a professional image of Nigeria at our borders”, she said. 

A key differentiator of this new patrol model is its focus on “Do-No-Harm” ethics. While the teams are designed for “intervention and rapid-response,” the implementing agency, ICMPD, has integrated a comprehensive human rights framework into the operational manual.

Nandap commended this “pragmatic and professional approach,” noting that the project aims to promote “safe, regular and orderly movement of people” rather than just acting as a deterrent force.

The event which marks a deepening of the diplomatic and security ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands was witnessed by the Director General of the Dutch Ministry of Asylum and Migration, Victor Cramer and the Head of Mission for ICMPD in Nigeria, Ms. Isabelle Wolfsgruber. 

Wolfsgruber in her speech said the project represents a significant milestone in enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Immigration Service. 

“Through the establishment of well-equipped and highly trained immigration mobile teams, the project will strengthen the NIS’ ability to respond swiftly and effectively to irregular migration, cross-border crimes and emerging security threats, particularly in remote and underserved border areas where permanent infrastructure is limited or absent. 

“Equipped with modern technology and advanced training, these teams will enhance border control while safeguarding human rights”, she stated.