UPDATE ON FIRE INCIDENT AT NIS HEADQUARTERS

"NIS has in place, an effective protection and security system for its data and operations facilities and will continue to offer quality services to Nigerians and foreigners alike in all areas of its mandate".... Spokesman.

The Ministry of Interior has reacted to the fire incident which broke out in a part of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters on Sunday morning.

The Ministry, in a statement issued on Monday and signed by Mohammed Manga, Director Press and Public Relations on behalf of the Honourable Minister, disclosed that the fire was put out by the Nigeria Fire Service stationed at the premise, assisted by the fire units of the neighbouring agencies, before it could do much damage. 

According to Manga, in the statement, said "No life was lost and no one was injured. The cause of the fire is being investigated".

"However, it affected the data management centre, especially the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) which enabled the agency to coordinate movement of persons at the borders and upload information on missing and stolen passports to INTERPOL database", the statement read.

"No data was lost as a result of the incident and this will not affect the operation of the agency whatsoever since each border post is also independently connected to INTERPOL".

'This incident occurred at a time the data management centre is being transferred to a new ultramodern building. The migration will now be accelerated seamlessly", he said.

"NIS has in place an effective protection and security system for its data and operations facilities and will continue to offer quality services to Nigerians and foreigners alike in all areas of its mandate", the Spokesman of the Ministry stated.