Abuja– The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in collaboration with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, conducted a four-day workshop (8 -11 May 2023) in Abuja to enhance the capacity of the Federal Government of Nigeria in border security and strengthening their counterterrorism efforts across the country.

This workshop was organized within the framework of the US-funded project “Enhancing Nigeria’s Border Management Capabilities”, and in line with the UN Security Council resolution 2396, obligating Member States to establish a standard for the collection, use, processing and protection of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, an important tool in the fight against terrorism and serious crimes.

The workshop offered a synergic platform for the law enforcement authorities to share their experiences, providing them with further insights on the benefits of inter-agency data sharing in Nigeria and with international partners in accordance with global standards.

“IOM has been supporting the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to manage migration through capacity-building and technical assistance for migration governance since 2002,” said Maysa Khalil, Programme Manager for IOM Nigeria.

“Now, this interactive workshop on Border Control and UN Counter-Terrorism Travel Programme will support all of us, including the governments of Nigeria, the U.S. and other partners, to better focus on watchlisting, screening, information sharing, and the use of Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) in Nigeria, to strengthen our cooperation and achieve greater impact results for effective border management.”

The workshop underscored the role of Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) in screening passengers at border crossing points. Developed by IOM, and currently operational in Nigeria, MIDAS is a fully customizable border management platform helping States seeking a non-commercial, cost-effective and comprehensive solution. The platform has been designed in compliance with international standards and is currently functioning in over 20 countries.  

“The all-of-society and all-of-government approach to our counter terrorism efforts require dedicated and concerted efforts by every citizen and governments at all levels. It is in this regard that I commend the participants for their resolute commitment and sacrifice to be part of this important workshop,” said Major General Babagana Monguno, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser.

The workshop brought together officers from the key law enforcement agencies including Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Department of State Services (DSS), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Human Rights Commission, and the Ministry of Justice to discuss and learn about the importance of border security in Nigeria.

“Border security is a key component of a country’s counterterrorism strategy,” said Bryana Stearns, Programme Manager at the U.S. Bureau of Counterterrorism. “Effective border security requires a holistic approach that incorporates integrated border management systems, inter- and intra-agency collaboration, community engagement, and information sharing. Through best practices in each of these areas, we can strengthen borders and enhance a country’s capacity to counter terrorist travel.”

Through its Immigration and Border Governance programme, IOM is focusing on creating the required environment to enhance the technical and operational capacity of Nigerian border security authorities for the collection and processing of relevant operational data; foster interagency cooperation for actionable intelligence gathering for joint investigations aiming to promote effective border management that benefits national security. IOM works closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria to promote safe, orderly, regular and responsible migration that benefits all.

More information on the UN Countering Terrorist Travel Programme can be found here.

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For more information, please contact:

Nima TAMADDON at IOM Nigeria: NTAMADDON@iom.int OR IOMNIGERIA@iom.int 

United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), CT Travel Programme: cttravel@un.org