Interior Minister Abba Moro has said that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has taken adequate steps to ease illegal immigrants out of the country.
The minister made the remark in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr George Udoh, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The minister said that the service had established zonal headquarters to curtail free entrance of illegal immigrants into the country.
“The immigration service has expanded its operations around the Northern parts of the country to ensure that people, who find their way into the country are properly identified, profiled and screened.
“We have every reason to believe that criminals have found their way into the country; they are part of the security issues we are facing in the country today,’’ he said.
Moro said steps were being taken by the service and other security agencies to ensure peaceful environment in the country.
He said that the Federal Government was determined to ensure that the country became the next business destination in Africa.
“The Interior Ministry through the Nigeria Immigration Service is aiming to procure appropriate technology to complement the human component of ensuring surveillance of the nation’s borders.
“We hope to combine these elements in order to secure our borders,’’ the statement quoted Moro as saying.
Moro said that various government agencies were taking steps to establish bilateral relations and transactions at various levels.
“Nigeria is a land of peace, by all standards; the Nigeria government has taken steps with great determination to ensure that there is security for the citizenry.
“I can say that the intensity of attacks and crisis in Nigeria has reduced; this is because of government’s determination and efforts to deal with the consequences of these crises,’’ he said.