Nigeria’s Border Expansive Not Porous, Leggjack
A former Comptroller of Immigration, Solomon Leggjack, has described Nigeria’s border as expensive, insisting that it is not porous and should not be seen as the cause of the nation’s security challenges.
Speaking at the official launch of his book, “Citizenship and Immigration Regulatory Framework in Nigeria,” Leggjack noted that “Nigeria has done very well to recognise her true Citizens by our various laws and immigration administrative processes. ” He said, “Nigeria’s Borders are not porous but expansive. It is not the major cause of our Country’s security challenges—stricto senso.”
He added: “Kindly compare the Southern USA border with Mexico and the rate of breaches of her borders by irregular migrants. Can you attribute it to Porous USA’s border? No, because their border is Not porous BUT Expansive, affording migrants who want to dodge Immigration procedures to exploit.”
He said, “The NIS management and the Hon. Minister of Interior are already doing much to address this by deploying e-border management systems in conjunction with global migration management Systems.”
On his motivation for writing the book, Leggjack said: “My motivation to write the book ranged from motivation by past superior bosses of mine who were intentional in encouraging and horning my writing skills to the need of sharing some knowledge of our very intricate job (as Immigration officers) to those we have left behind to reduce the dearth of such materials as well as difficulty in searching for such persons amongst the pool of retired officers.”
The book reviewer, respected academic Adagogo Brown, said: “I find this book highly enlightening and educative as a resource literature on the laws guiding cross-border movements and the management of immigration in Nigeria and other countries of the world. Because human beings generally, for several reasons, move from one country of the world to another, sometimes changing nationality, it becomes very important for them to know the rules guiding such movements.
“To be informed and properly guided on cross-border movements and citizenship, I recommend this book to international business men, companies that engage expatriate staff, students of law, international and diplomatic studies, state, and national assembly members, all staff of NIS and every literate person in the English language, who believes in the power of knowledge, especially understanding how human beings move around the world.”
