By Abbas Nazil
In a decisive move to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Navy aimed at combating terrorism and other criminal activities in the country’s international maritime domain.
This development was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, during a recent visit to the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft in Apapa, Lagos.
The visit formed part of a regional workshop on maritime border security, which was co-hosted by the NIS and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre.
Represented at the event by Deputy Controller Muhammad Umar, the CG said the initiative goes beyond addressing stowaways—a recurring maritime issue—and aims to tackle a broader spectrum of security threats, including transnational crimes and terrorism.
“This visit is not only about dealing with stowaways, but also about how to control criminality and terrorism across our international maritime domain,” she stated, underlining the comprehensive scope of the collaboration.
Umar further elaborated on the partnership, noting the Navy’s central role in safeguarding Nigeria’s international territorial waters.
He explained that the operations and security measures are being coordinated under what is referred to as the “four Cs”—a strategy that emphasizes coordination, collaboration, communication, and cooperation among relevant security agencies.
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He affirmed that all economic and maritime activities occurring within Nigeria’s territorial waters require joint oversight by the Navy and other law enforcement bodies such as the NIS and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Paul Nimmyel, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to multi-agency cooperation as a means of ensuring the safety of Nigeria’s maritime environment.
According to Nimmyel, collaboration with the NIS and Customs Service is a key operational mandate at the base.
He pointed out that the Navy conducts thorough documentation of individuals apprehended in the maritime space before handing them over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution or further investigation.
“In situations where we arrest criminals or potential offenders at sea, the Navy ensures their identities and actions are properly recorded,” he said.
“After that, they are handed over to the relevant agencies. What you’ve witnessed today is a simulation of a common incident involving stowaways, which frequently occurs on foreign vessels entering our waters.”
The renewed collaboration between the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Navy represents a proactive step in addressing maritime insecurity, which has far-reaching implications for national security, international trade, and economic stability.
By combining forces and leveraging each agency’s strengths, the initiative seeks to curb illicit activities in Nigeria’s maritime domain, enhance border control operations, and promote lawful economic engagement across the nation’s seaways.
