The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is a governmental organization responsible for border security and migration management in
Nigeria. It was established by the Act of
Parliament in 1963.[2][3] In 2015, the 1963 Act was repealed and replaced with the Immigration Act 2015 which positions the service with the legal instrument to combat the Smuggling of migrants (SOM) in Nigeria.[4]
History
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was separated from the
Nigeria Police (NP) in August 1958, known at that time as the Immigration Department, and headed by the Chief Federal Immigration Officer (CFIO).
The Immigration Department was established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 171, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) on August 1, 1963, when
Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the
Minister of Internal Affairs (a position now referred to as Minister of Interior).
The initial Law regulating Immigration Duties was the Immigration Act of 1963 which was amended in 2014 and again in 2015 (Immigration Act, 2015).
The Service has from 1963 been restructured to manage modern migration in line with global, regional, and sub-regional political alignments.
The NIS has leveraged the use of Information and Communication Technologies in its operations including:
The introduction of the Machine Readable electronic
passport (MRP) in 2007
The creation of a Service website (www.immigration.gov.ng) and portal (portal.immigration.gov.ng)
Global Passport intervention in line with the Federal Government Policy on Citizenship Diplomacy
Forensic laboratory services for the examination of travel documents and monetary instruments
The introduction of the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC)
As empowered by Section 2 of the Immigration Act, 2015, the Service is responsible for:
The control of persons entering or leaving Nigeria
The issuance of travel documents, including Nigerian passports, to bonafide Nigerians within and outside Nigeria
The issuance of residence permits to foreigners in Nigeria
Border surveillance and patrol
Enforcement of laws and regulations with which they are directly charged; and
The performance of such para-military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them under the authority of this Act or any other enactment[5]