The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States Heads of Immigration Forum.
The announcement was made on Tuesday through a statement by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, on the service’s official social media platform.
Nandap’s appointment occurred during a recent forum meeting in Banjul, Gambia, where representatives from 13 ECOWAS member states gathered to discuss key issues surrounding migration and mobility within the region.
One of the main topics at the meeting was the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, which is set to replace the current ECOWAS Travel Certificate and Residence Permit. The new identity card aims to make it easier for citizens to move, live, and do business across member countries while ensuring national security.
Nandap highlighted the importance of speeding up the adoption of these policies to promote regional integration and socio-economic growth.
“We need to expedite the implementation of these initiatives to ensure we achieve the desired regional integration and progress,” Nandap stated.
She also acknowledged the progress made but pointed out existing challenges such as irregular migration, human trafficking, and border security issues, particularly due to the vast borders in the region.
Nandap called for a coordinated and harmonised approach to managing borders and immigration policies across ECOWAS to ensure both security and the protection of citizens’ rights.
