The Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has congratulated the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for constructing an ultra-modern Office Complex for the Sokoto State Command.
He gave the commendation during the official commissioning of the new Command Office Complex of the NIS, Sokoto State Command, located on Gusau Road, which took place on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
The impressive commissioning ceremony was performed by Governor Tambuwal, with many dignitaries in attendance, including the Chief Host, the Comptroller General of the NIS (CGI), Muhammad Babandede, representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Mohammad Dan-Iya, Secretary to the State Government, Saidu Umaru Ubandoma, the NIS Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Human Resources Management, A.M Yarima, other senior officers of the NIS, other State Government functionaries and representatives of military and paramilitary agencies in the State.
According to a statement by Amos Okpu, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration Service, Public Relations Officer, for the CGI, Governor Tambuwal described the decision by the management of the NIS to build the new State Command Complex for its Officers and Men as not only very timely but strategic.
He noted that the edifice will offer conducive workplace environment for the Service stressing that the State recognizes the crucial role of the NIS in the national security architecture. “As a State with very vast international borderline, we put high interest in any efforts that would make Officers and Men of the Immigration Service to be comfortable in the State to do their job and this is the reason why we commend the management of the Service for completing the project”, Gov. Tambuwal noted.
While applauding the efforts of CGI Babandede for the digitization of NIS systems and operations, the Governor specifically appreciated the choice of Ilella Border Control Post in the State as the Pilot Centre for the e-Border project. He stated that the effort will significantly address the security concerns at the Land Borderlines in the State and affirmed the State’s readiness to continue to support the Service in any way possible for enhanced service delivery to the people of Sokoto State and the country at large.
Earlier in his remarks, the Comptroller General of Immigration Muhammad Babandede MFR had reiterated the Service’s uncommon commitment to the welfare of the workforce. He stated that upon assumption of Office as Comptroller General, he noticed a huge infrastructural deficit in the system and got committed to building at least two Command Office Complexes yearly. This has been pursued very vigorously till date with the Sokoto Command Complex being the twelfth of such Buildings already delivered while six others are currently in various stages of completion. Before now the Sokoto State Command has been operating at the Federal Secretariat in the State for decades.
He thanked the Federal Government for the delivery of the NIS Technology Building which currently houses the e-Border project. As I speak, he said, “we can monitor real time online all movements and activities at Ilella Border Control Post. The Illella Control Post is our e-Border Pilot Centre and to this effect, we have upgraded it to a full Command Structure under the supervision of a Comptroller of Immigration.” He added that the e-Border project remains the most suitable and modern approach to meaningfully address the nation’s Border Security concerns especially at the Land Borders.
The Comptroller General further affirmed management’s renewed commitment to profound reform efforts that would deliver the most effective and efficient Migration Management agency to the country.
He applauded the Governor for the warm reception accorded his team at the Government House and expressed appreciation for the Governor’s gracious acceptance to personally commission the Office Complex.
He also used the opportunity to thank the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for providing good leadership to the Ministry and its agencies, especially Nigeria Immigration Service and equally thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for investing heavily in NIS which has positioned the Service very strategically in the country’s security system.
