The Nigerian Immigration Service has been charged to more effectively man the nation’s borders to check the influx of regular migrants to the country.

The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, gave the charge on Friday in his Palace while playing host to the Comptroller of Immigration, Delta State Command, Odesola Olayinka, who paid him a courtesy visit.

Asagba Prof Azinge noted that many of the regular migrants, mostly from West African countries, found their ways to Nigeria through the borders, adding that some of them constituted security risk to the society.

While revealing that there were many of such migrants in Asaba, the highly esteemed traditional ruler advocated the profiling of the artisans among them by the Immigration authorities, while the ones hired for construction works should be identified and encouraged to visit the nearest Immigration office to register their presence.

The Asagba, who is the President of the Nigerian Immigration Lawyers’ Association, said he was conversant with the activities of the Immigration Service and the challenges of the organisation, promising to assist in the area of sensitization and advocacy for the monitoring of the migrants. 

His Royal Majesty particularly called on the Delta State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service to up its game and be more proactive to be able to earn respect and attract the goodwill of the state government. 

Earlier, the State Comptroller of Immigration, CIS Odesola Olayinka, said the visit was to pay homage to the Asagba and receive royal blessings.

Olayinka expressed delight that Asaba had turned to a beautiful city over the years, with a significant infrastructural upgrade, and prayed for greater developmental strides under the reign of Asagba Prof Azinge.