Adebusuyi Adeniran, Professor of Migration and Development Sociology at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has called for urgent reforms and rebranding of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to enhance its structure and responsibilities.
Adeniran made the call while delivering the 407th inaugural lecture at OAU on Tuesday. The lecture was titled “Migralusion: A Mix-Transnational Theory of ‘Japa’ Culture”.
He emphasised that the NIS should be repositioned as the flagship agency for border security and migration management. According to him, immigration data management is only one aspect of its mandate, and the agency should take charge of border security, emigration, policy projection and implementation, and advisory services.
“Cross-border and transnational migration should be transformed into an industry, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s Gross National Income (GNI). Countries like Sri Lanka and the Philippines have successfully integrated emigration management into their development plans,” Adeniran stated.
He recommended renaming the agency to better reflect its responsibilities, suggesting Nigerian Migration and Border Service (NMBS) or Nigeria Migration and Border Security (NMBS). He also urged the government to mainstream migration-related agencies under NIS operations, addressing the challenge of overlapping functions across multiple ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Highlighting the socio-economic causes of unstructured migration, Adeniran condemned foreign countries like Canada, the UK, and the UAE for frequently changing skilled immigrant visa rules targeting Nigerians.
He appealed for the establishment of migration clinics in all 774 local government areas, to enlighten, counsel, and monitor prospective migrants, particularly youths. “These clinics should be accessible, free, and youth-friendly for all age and gender categories,” he said.
Finally, Adeniran called for OAU to serve as a contemporary centre for migration research and policy analysis in Africa, promoting effective and safe migration management.
(NAN)