The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has made significant contributions to protecting Nigeria’s borders and managing migration. However, effective immigration enforcement should not end at border posts. It should also extend, in accordance with the law, into cities and towns through intelligence-led compliance operations to ensure that foreign nationals residing in Nigeria comply with the country’s immigration laws.
Nigeria is home to thousands of foreign nationals from ECOWAS member states and other parts of the world. While the ECOWAS Protocol promotes the free movement of persons, it does not remove the responsibility of long-term residents to comply with the immigration laws and administrative procedures of the host country.
Strengthening lawful inland immigration compliance can help Nigeria to:
- Improve national security by maintaining accurate records of foreign nationals residing in the country.
- Detect visa overstays and other immigration violations.
- Strengthen public confidence in the immigration system.
- Improve intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation.
- Increase lawful government revenue through residence permits, work permits, renewals, and other immigration services.
According to the Nigeria Immigration Service handbook, the ECOWAS Residence Card fees include:
- ₦500 for most ECOWAS citizens.
- ₦6,580 for citizens of Côte d’Ivoire.
- ₦25,000 for Togolese citizens.
For many expatriate workers who require the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), the approved government fee is US$2,000
If immigration laws are consistently enforced and eligible foreign nationals regularize their status, these lawful fees could generate substantial additional revenue for the Federal Government. Such revenue could be invested in modern border surveillance technology, digital immigration systems, officer training, intelligence capabilities, and improved public services.
One additional policy worth considering is assigning at least two Nigeria Immigration Service officers to every Police Division or Police Station across the country. Such officers would work closely with the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen intelligence sharing, verify immigration status where legally appropriate, identify immigration violations, and improve compliance with Nigeria’s immigration laws. This partnership could also help maintain more accurate records of foreign nationals residing in local communities while supporting national security and public safety.
This proposal is not intended to restrict the lawful movement of ECOWAS citizens or other legitimate visitors. Rather, it seeks to ensure that everyone residing or working in Nigeria complies with the country’s immigration laws while respecting constitutional rights, due process, Nigeria’s international obligations, and the dignity of all individuals.
A strong immigration system is not only about guarding entry points. It is also about maintaining an effective, transparent, and intelligence-driven presence throughout the country. By combining strong border management with fair inland immigration compliance, Nigeria can strengthen national security, improve governance, increase lawful revenue, and build greater public confidence in its immigration system.
Nigeria has the opportunity to build one of Africa’s most effective immigration systems—not only by securing its borders, but also by ensuring that immigration laws are applied fairly, professionally, and consistently across the nation.
#NigeriaImmigration #NIS #NigeriaPolice #NationalSecurity #BorderSecurity #Immigration #PublicSafety #Nigeria #ECOWAS
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