The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade has urged personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to strive to portray the country positively at all times.
Akinlade said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja by Afonja Ajibola, Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry.
She said their attitude at entry points into the country was important in selling Nigeria positively or negatively.
The permanent secretary said when she visited NIS Headquarters in Abuja that “the NIS is the first governmental agency that visitors and foreigners coming into the country interface with.
“The service has a lot to do through improved service delivery to safeguard the country and improve it’s image in a positive way.
“There are lots of negative thoughts when people visit Nigeria for one thing or the other; and we know that the first service delivery of any kind to visitors is with the NIS.
“Therefore, the onus is on you to correct the wrong impression on negative reports they habour about Nigeria.”
The permanent secretary acknowledged the daunting challenges facing the service, especially porous borders and paucity of transport facilities needed to manage migrants coming into the country.
Akinlade assured that the Federal Government was desirous of leveraging on technology to address the problem headlong.
She commended the Acting Comptroller-General of NIS, Mrs Caroline Adepoju for her humility, astute public relations and taking proactive steps to accomplish effective boarder security and migration management.
Akinlade appreciated the Oba of Lagos and the state Governor for their support to NIS, including the recent donation of a piece of land in Lagos to provide accommodation for NIS personnel.
She assured the service of her support in all aspects especially in the areas of staff welfare and logistics.
Earlier, Adepoju, the Acting C-G, sought Federal Government intervention in the areas of staff accommodation and more passport processing centres.
Other areas include: staff training, welfare, transportation and internet connectivity in all border posts in the country.