NIS, journalists partner to tackle trafficking, illegal migration in Ogun

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Ogun State Command, and the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ogun State Council, have pledged to strengthen collaboration to tackle human trafficking, irregular migration and border crimes in the state.

The commitment was made on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Correspondents’ Chapel to the Command’s headquarters in Abeokuta.

Speaking during the visit, the Comptroller of Immigration, Ogun State Command, Ganiyu Oladele Olubunmi, said effective service delivery by security agencies relies heavily on the media to reach the public.

Olubunmi described the NIS and the media as twin partners in progress, noting that the Immigration Service cannot achieve its operational mandates in isolation.

“NIS and the media are partners in progress. We are a service provider, and for all these services, there must be a channel. That is where journalists come in.

“We cannot do it alone, and we would like this collaboration to continue. My doors are open for any inquiries in Ogun State,” he stated.

He explained that the media remains the bridge between security agencies and the public, and the most effective vehicle for projecting the command’s anti-crime drives, border management initiatives and administrative updates.

Highlighting the command’s core operational priorities, the comptroller said it routinely engages in sensitization against irregular migration, human trafficking and trans-border crimes across border communities and urban centres, but such efforts would remain ineffective without the robust reach of the media.

“We also engage in sensitization on irregular migration, human trafficking, and others. All this awareness cannot be effective without the media,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Yetunde Fatungase, lauded the NIS for its frontline role in safeguarding national borders and regulating migration.

Fatungase said journalists recognise the contributions of the Service to national security, public safety, passport issuance and management of foreign nationals, and called for structured channels for prompt information sharing.

She reaffirmed the chapel’s commitment to ethical journalism, fact-checking and balanced reporting to help combat fake news, clarify border regulations and support public safety across Ogun State.