Kaduna (Nigeria) — Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar has called for synergy between the Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to enhance the security of the Nation’s border.
One of the sought areas of collaboration is for the NIS to employ the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to ease policing the vast border area, as well as resuscitating its fleet of Do-228 aircraft fleet with a view to resuming joint border patrol with the NAF.
The call is in view of life in post insurgency period in the Northeast.
Abubakar made the call while receiving Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede in his office in Abuja.
He said the NIS would have more tasks manning the borders to ensure only the right people are allowed in and out of the country, especially through the borders with sister African Countries in the North Eastern region.
The CAS stated that NAF is prepared to partner NIS especially that it has successfully designed and produced 5 versions of the GULMA UAV, and have operationalise them through collaboration with UAVision of Portugal.
“We are ready to partner with those who are willing because we have the technology but we do not have the funds”, said the CAS.
In his response, the Comptroller General NIS, Muhammadu Babandede, stated that the need for NIS and NAF to work together towards achieving national objectives cannot be overemphasised.
He expressed the willingness of NIS under his leadership to partner with the NAF in furtherance of national goals.
He called on NAF to assist with the audit of dysfunctional assets, including aircraft and surveillance camera in NIS inventory. “A letter to this effect will be sent to the NAF soon” the NIS Boss said.
