Nigeria Immigration Service Partners with UNODC to Combat Cyber-Facilitated Migrant Smuggling

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a strategic collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to strengthen its fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking facilitated through digital platforms. The partnership aims to improve cyber surveillance, enforcement capabilities, and overall response to emerging migration-related crimes.

The agreement follows a high-level meeting at the NIS headquarters in Abuja, which brought together top officials from both organizations to discuss strategies for leveraging technology to detect and prevent illegal migration. UNODC’s delegation, led by Project Coordinator on Cybercrime, Diana Marcus, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to providing technical assistance, capacity building, and strategic guidance to NIS.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Deputy Comptroller-General of the Migration Directorate, N. Odikpo, described the partnership as “timely and vital” in addressing the increasing sophistication of trafficking networks operating online.

She emphasized the need for coordinated actions, stating that enhanced digital monitoring and rapid response mechanisms are critical to curbing exploitation of vulnerable populations.

Deputy Comptroller-General of ICT & Cybersecurity, Augusta Obianime, highlighted the importance of continuous collaboration with international partners. She noted that the engagement with UNODC would enable NIS to adopt advanced technologies, strengthen investigative protocols, and ensure effective enforcement against cyber-enabled trafficking and smuggling.

The NIS underscored that the collaboration aligns with its broader mission of enhancing migration governance, safeguarding human rights, and preventing criminal networks from exploiting technological loopholes. Officials also noted that such partnerships are part of a proactive approach to anticipate and respond to emerging trends in global migration and trafficking.

This initiative comes amid increasing concerns over the use of digital platforms to facilitate illegal migration, human trafficking, and exploitation. By combining international expertise with national enforcement efforts, NIS aims to create a robust framework that not only detects and prevents crimes but also supports the rehabilitation and protection of victims.