Handover Ceremony of Regional Border Management Academy  Tuga, in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Date: 17th July 2023

It was a momentous event on the 17th of July 2023, when the Assistant Comptroller General, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, representing the Ag Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Caroline Wurola Adepoju, along with the Team leader of A-TIPSOM Project, Mr. Federico Millan, and the senior management team from NIS, gathered in Kebbi State for the handing over ceremony of the refurbished Regional Border Management Academy in Tuga, Kebbi State.

The handover ceremony was attended by distinguished guests such as traditional rulers of TUGA, Chief magistrate of TUDA, representatives from the Government of Kebbi State, Nigeria Police, and other relevant stakeholders. Among the projects handed over to the Acting Comptroller General were sixteen refurbished blocks of rooms, symbolizing a significant step towards strengthening the capabilities of the academy.

Additionally, other essential infrastructure projects that were completed and handed over included two boreholes, four store buildings, one shop building, and solar streetlights, which will further enhance the facilities and functionality of the academy.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Caroline Wuruola Adepoju, the Ag Comptroller General of NIS, expressed her gratitude to the European Union and FIIAPP (International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies) for their support in providing some of the infrastructures for the academy. She assured them that the NIS would put every resource to good use, emphasizing the dedication to optimizing the facilities to enhance their operational effectiveness.

The newly commissioned Regional Border Management Academy in Tuga, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi, signifies a significant milestone in the collective commitment to regional integration and cooperation in migration management through training, research, and knowledge sharing.

Mrs. Adepoju further elaborated on the academy’s role in enhancing the capacity and professionalism of immigration officers across the West African region. The academy would provide training that focuses on safe migration and will serve as a degree-awarding institution for officers and civilians, making it a crucial institution for border management and immigration training in the region.

Mr. Federico Millan, the Team Leader of the FIIAPP A-TIPSOM project, also addressed the audience, describing the academy as a legacy that the current NIS leadership would bequeath to the next generation of officers in Nigeria. He highlighted the comprehensive infrastructure of the academy, which encompasses 16 blocks of rooms, two boreholes, four store buildings, one shop building, and solar streetlights.

According to him, the partnership between NIS and FIIAPP has proven to be a successful endeavor in promoting secure and legal migration practices. The handing over of the Regional Border Management Academy marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s commitment to effectively manage borders and migration while fostering cooperation and collaboration within the West African region. With these upgraded facilities and infrastructure, the academy is well-positioned to play a critical role in ensuring safer and more regulated migration processes while training a new generation of immigration officers to meet the challenges of the future