The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Wednesday said it would continue to strengthen its partnership with Chinese leading technology firm, Huawei, to provide a digital platform for efficient and real-time migration management across the nation’s borders for internal security.
The Service’s Acting Comptroller-General, (CG), Mallam Isah Idris, said the need for deployment of relevant Information and Communication Technology, (ICT) to the agency’s border posts had made it imperative for the management to continue to engage Huawei Technologies to enhance its operations
Idris, who made the remarks during an interactive session between the NIS and Huawei Technologies on immigration digital transformation, stressed that a sustained collaboration between the Service and the technology giant would bolster efforts aimed at securing Nigeria’s borders through ICT.
He said: “Within the framework of the statutory obligations of the NIS and in furtherance of the overall commitment towards entrenching effective and efficient migration management and internal security strategies in Nigeria, the deployment of relevant ICT cannot be over emphasized.
“Consequently, while contending with the reality of inadequate resources, the NIS had implemented several ICT platforms to guarantee seamless operations and effective and efficient service delivery. Some prominent examples of such platforms which are at various stages of implementation include e-Passport Project, e-Payment for Immigration facilities and Expatriate Residence Permit (CERPAC) Project.
“Others are e-Pass to check overstay, electronic passenger registration system (e-PaRS), automated Visa on Arrival (VOA), automated Temporary Work Permit (TWP), Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), Public Key Directory (PKD) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), a harmonization of data base command and Control Centre in the NIS’ Technology Building and the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered central database system among others”, the NIS boss added.
Idris further said that the interactive session was organized to create an enabling environment for the ICT personnel of the NIS to brief the technical experts from Huawei on the general status of the NIS digital transformation with a view to engaging in robust technical discussions and exchange of ideas towards enhancing the capacity of the NIS. in accelerating trends for operational
In his remarks, Huawei Chief Scientist, Koh Heng Eng, who gave a brief description of some of some key technological strategies that could be adopted by the NIS to achieve the integration of its operations with appropriate and adequate technological deployment.
He promised that his company would continue to provide the needed digital and technological support to the NIS in order to deepen the Service and company’s relationship.
