The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has charged graduates of the Boarder Control and Immigration Management System (BCIMS) training to utilise the platform to make Nigeria proud.
The BCIMS is an advanced technological data platform that harmonised data collected across several services into one system and is utilised by the NIS.
Tunji-Ojo gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the BCIMS specialised training at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters on Friday in Abuja.
He urged the trained personnel to perform their duties with deligence, efficiency and understanding of the fact that they were the gateway and border personalities of Nigeria.
“You are the first impression to anybody coming into this country, and you are the last one that those leaving go through, so represent Nigeria well.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. The service has over 38,000 personnel and only 87 were picked. That shows you the investment of trust that has been placed on you; don’t let us down,” he said.
The minister explained that harmonisation of data among data generation and processing agencies was the only way to have a single “point of truth”.
He said data harmonisation was the principal reason why developed countries were able to reach the level they were today, and that Nigeria was going in that direction, fixing the economy and making progress.
“We have a system where the services share data in one portal, so who you say you are to the NIS should better be who you say you are to the Fire Service and to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
“That is the only way we can protect our people. A system where no one has more than one passport,” said.
According to him, the NIS is one of the most technologically advanced immigration services in the world, already receiving accolades from other nations.
“We have a data centre today that is over eight petabytes. That is one of the biggest anywhere in Nigeria or even Africa.
“I want us to be in a position where tomorrow, Nigeria will be the big brother to other nations when it comes to border and immigration management.
“We should be able to send our personnel with high capacity to other countries to teach them and offer help in areas that we have already perfected here in Nigeria.”
Tunji-Ojo assured the NIS that more capacity trainings would be done in the near future, adding that the government couldn’t demand the best from personnel without properly training them to deliver.
“We will invest more into training, because the simple truth is that we cannot expect you to give what you don’t have; that will be wickedness.
“We are on track. Let’s sustain the mandate, template and discipline, as no organisation can survive without discipline,” he urged.
He commended the NIS Comptroller- General, Kemi Nandap for the hardwork, dedication and effort towards actualising the system.
By Kennedy Sheyin
