Foreign elements with plans to participate in the 2027 general elections through irregular migration into the country should forget their plans, as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS) vowed on Friday to block them.

The Federal institutions have vowed to intensify collaboration and synergy towards strengthening the nation’s borders, share intelligence and mount surveillance platforms to prevent incursions into the country by foreigners before, during and after the elections.

The NIS and DSS positions were made known at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Abuja during the formal flag-off of the 2027 General Elections Sensitization Programme.

The programme, which was attended by officers of the NIS, was attended by the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, the Director General of DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, and the representatives of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi and the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Nandap, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) in Charge of Visa and Residency, Franca Usiwoma Nwanneka, urged personnel of the Service to be vigilant and ensure effective coordination of their operations during the elections.

“Today’s workshop is particularly significant as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. Beyond the responsibility of conducting credible elections, there is the equally important task of providing a peaceful and secure environment in which the democratic processes can thrive.

” Achieving this requires collective vigilance, effective coordination, and the commitment of all institutions entrusted with safeguarding our nation.

“For the Nigeria Immigration Service, our responsibility is clear. As the agency charged with the mandate of border security and migration management, we occupy a strategic position in the nation’s security architecture.

” We must therefore remain alert to the influx of foreigners, emerging threats, particularly irregular migration, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, and other transnational criminal activities capable of undermining national security”, Nandap said.

She said it has become imperative for personnel to take note of the importance of intelligence sharing, effective border surveillance, and sustained inter-agency collaboration during the periods of the elections.

“No single agency can address the complex security challenges confronting our nation in this region. Our collective strength lies in our ability to work together, share timely information, and respond decisively to the migrating threats”, the CG said.

She also warned personnel of the Agency against taking said with political parties or individuals participating in the elections, emphasising that they must not only be neutral, but professional in their operations.

“Our officers must demonstrate the highest standards of political neutrality, discipline, and respect for the rule of law. Under no circumstance should our personnel use official resources to promote partisan interests. Our loyalty must remain firmly in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Nandap said.

” To our Zonal Coordinators, Controllers, and Heads of Formations, this responsibility places an even greater demand on your leadership. We must ensure that our partners are adequately prepared before, during, and after elections through strengthening surveillance, intelligence gathering, effective deployment, and close coordination with relevant security agencies.

” Our participation in the Interagency Consultative Committee on International Security, ICCES, must be proactive, purposeful, and result-oriented,” Nandap further said.

” The task of securing our nation and sustaining foreign confidence in our institutions is a collective responsibility. As we prepare for the 2027 General Election, let us be guided by the common goals to protect our national security, uphold the rule of law, and contribute to an electoral environment in which every Nigerian can exercise their democratic rights, peacefully and without violence”, the CG said.

In his remarks, the Director General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, represented by the Deputy Director-General of DSS in Charge of Operations and Intelligence, Patrick Ikenweiwe, said synergy and collaboration amongst the nation’s security architecture have become imperative.

According to him, the NIS and DSS would work together to ensure that the nation’s borders are safe from violations and irregular migration of foreign elements throughout the period of the elections.

Ajayi said: “As the nation prepares for the 2027 General Election, the security of our borders and the integrity of the migration control system will become critical. Experts have shown that electoral programmes attract attention to exploit borders for threats, for movement of policing camps, mercenaries, and persons intent on undermining democratic processes.

” The Nigerian immigration system therefore stands at the first line of national defence, and its resilience remains indispensable to a peaceful, relevant exercise.

“The Department of State Services remains committed to deepening collaboration with the Nigerian immigration services through timely, intelligent sharing, joint check assessments, and coordinated operations, particularly along our land borders and at entry points.

“No single agency can secure the electoral space alone. Our strength lies in absolute synergy.

“The focus of the P-E-R-M-T-I-S framework is visible on the table. Effective supervision, accountability, and measurable results are the foundations of any institution that seeks to deliver on its mandate. I ask supervisors to lead by example and to uphold neutrality and professionalism throughout the electoral cycle.” (The Nation)