The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have pledged to strengthen border security and tighten migration controls to prevent foreign interference and irregular migration during the 2027 general elections.
The agencies said they would intensify intelligence sharing, joint surveillance and coordinated security operations to prevent foreign elements and criminal networks from exploiting Nigeria’s borders to undermine the electoral process.
The commitment was made on Friday at the NIS headquarters in Abuja during the formal flag-off of the 2027 General Elections Sensitisation Programme.
The event was attended by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap; Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi; and representatives of the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, and the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche.
Speaking at the event, Nandap, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency, Franca Usiwoma Nwanneka, urged immigration personnel to remain vigilant and strengthen operational coordination before, during and after the elections.
She described the 2027 elections as a critical period requiring collective vigilance and the commitment of all institutions responsible for protecting Nigeria’s national security and democratic institutions.
According to her, the Immigration Service occupies a strategic position in the country’s security architecture, given its responsibility for border protection and migration management.
She warned that irregular migration, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and other transnational criminal activities could undermine national security if not effectively addressed.
Nandap said credible elections required not only an effective electoral process but also a peaceful and secure environment in which Nigerians could exercise their democratic rights.
She stressed that no single security agency could independently tackle the country’s complex security challenges, emphasising the need for sustained intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation.
The Immigration chief also warned personnel against partisan political activities, insisting that officers must maintain strict neutrality, discipline and professionalism throughout the electoral period.
She maintained that government resources and official positions must not be deployed to advance the interests of any political party or candidate, adding that the service’s loyalty must remain with the Nigerian Constitution.
She consequently directed zonal coordinators, state controllers and heads of formations to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and operational deployment while maintaining close collaboration with other security agencies.
She also urged proactive participation in the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), stressing that such collaboration must deliver measurable results.
In his remarks, the DSS Director-General, Ajayi, represented by the Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations and Intelligence, Patrick Ikenweiwe, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to closer cooperation with the Immigration Service to secure the country’s borders throughout the electoral cycle.
He said effective border management and migration control would be crucial to protecting the 2027 elections against external threats.
Ajayi warned that electoral activities could attract individuals seeking to exploit weaknesses in border controls to facilitate the movement of mercenaries, political operatives and other persons intent on disrupting democratic processes.
He described the Immigration Service as the first line of national defence against irregular migration and cross-border security threats, noting that its effectiveness would significantly influence the security of the electoral environment.
The DSS chief pledged deeper collaboration through timely intelligence sharing, joint threat assessments and coordinated operations, particularly along Nigeria’s land borders and designated entry points.
He emphasised that securing the electoral space required strong institutional synergy, adding that no single agency could independently guarantee the safety and integrity of the process.
Ajayi also called for effective supervision, accountability and measurable performance across security formations, urging officers to demonstrate professionalism and political neutrality in the discharge of their duties.
The renewed commitment comes as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, with security agencies expected to play critical roles in preventing cross-border threats, protecting electoral activities and ensuring that eligible Nigerians exercise their democratic rights in a peaceful and secure environment.
