The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stepped up its fight against irregular migration, stopping 294 citizens from illegally exiting the country and turning back 332 undocumented foreigners attempting to cross into Nigeria through the Seme border.
The operation, carried out over recent weeks, also led to the rescue of 36 victims of human trafficking and child exploitation, according to the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap.
Speaking at a national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja themed “Emerging Trends in Migrant Smuggling: Building a Unified National Strategy,” Nandap said the surge in Nigerians seeking unsafe routes abroad—popularly known as Japa—remains alarming.
“The sophistication of migrant smuggling has grown significantly, involving organized cross-border syndicates,” she said. “These are no longer random acts but coordinated criminal operations exploiting our youth.”
To curb the trend, the NIS has adopted a multi-agency approach involving tighter legal enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and stronger cooperation with both local and international partners.
This year alone, more than 577,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been educated on the dangers of illegal migration.
Awareness drives have also been expanded from Lagos to schools, markets, worship centers, and motor parks across the country.
Nandap disclosed plans to establish anti-smuggling clubs in secondary schools and incorporate them into NYSC’s community development programs.
Advanced surveillance technology at the Seme border was instrumental in detecting the irregular movements and assisting with the rescue operations, she noted.
“These figures reflect just a short period of activity, which shows the scale of the problem,” Nandap emphasized.
Nigeria, she added, is strengthening cooperation through regional initiatives such as the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes, the most recent of which was hosted in Lagos, to harmonize efforts in tackling irregular migration.
The immigration chief called for a united national response involving government bodies, NGOs, religious institutions, academia, and the private sector.
“Fighting migrant smuggling is both a security imperative and a moral obligation,” Nandap said.
“Every victim represents a lost dream, a broken family, and a weakened nation. Our success depends on working together to promote safe and legal migration.”
The forum was attended by representatives from federal ministries, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations involved in migration management and the protection of trafficking victims.
