IMMIGRATION SERVICE BOSS, CGI WURA-OLA, SIX OTHERS DECORATED WITH NEW RANK

The newly appointed CGI Adepoju Caroline Wura-Ola being decorated with her new rank by the Interior Affairs Minister, Dr. Tunji-Ojo alongside her husband, Chief Adepoju

"The NIS is a very important agency. I believe in building stronger institutions than in building men because men will go while institutions remain." Tunji-Ojo

"We will make sure that henceforth, people get promoted at the right time as against the way it used to be before I came on board as Minister."

Adepoju Caroline Wura-ola (Mrs) has, on Wednesday 6th December 2023 become the 18th substantive Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service; the third female so far.

The newly appointed CGI was decorated with her new rank by the Minister of Interior Affairs, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, alongside six Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration; Auna Usman, Usman Babangida, Zainab Lawal; Hassan Sadate; Emenike Ijeoma Chidi and Nandap Kemi Nanna whose appointments were approved alongside the CG by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday December 4. 

It is of note that the CGI has been on acting capacity since 1st June, 2023. 

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who decorated the newly appointed officers of Nigeria Immigration Service, charged them to see their elevation as a call for more work while also reminding them of the enormous task ahead of them. 

The Minister, in a statement issued and signed by Afonja Fatai Ajibola, Deputy Director Press and Public Relations Department of the Interior Affairs Ministry, charged them to be more dedicated to their duties by giving their best at all times to move the Service to enviable heights.

He pledged to undertake surgical review of the entire system to allow officers get to the top of their careers early enough to be able to add value and contribute meaningfully to the development of the Service, saying he was not happy that some of those being decorated as DCGs were already at the end of their careers.

“The NIS is a very important agency. I believe in building stronger institutions than in building men because men will go while institutions remain.

“I am happy for you that today, you are decorated with your new ranks; I am also not too happy because some of you are getting decorated almost at the end of your careers,” the minister said.

According to Dr. Tunji-Ojo, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) of which he is the chairman, "would review and rework the whole system to put the staff and workers of Immigration Service at the centre of what the Ministry is doing."

"The work of the Immigration Service is critical to national security," he said while also noting that "if the Service is doing its job well, with borders properly manned, the military, police and other agencies would have less work to do in securing the country.

“We will make sure that henceforth, people get promoted at the right time as against the way it used to be before I came on board as Minister.

“I assure you that we will work to ensure the review of the whole NIS system for effective and efficient service delivery,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He promised to prioritise training and retraining of NIS personnel as well as enhance their welfare to encourage them to put in their best.

He acknowledged the fact that most of the personnel never had the opportunity to undergo any kind of training either overseas or within the country.

While emphasising on the need to train and retrain officers of the Service, the Minister said deployment of technology alone would not secure borders or provide other services provided by the NIS, hence personnel training and development must be given priority attention. 

“This cannot continue under my watch. People must be trained to enable them to give their best, especially in the area of modern border control.

“The Service must regain its glory and take its rightful pride of place.

“If a nation cannot secure its borders, such nation can never safeguard its citizens.

“The ability of Nigerians to be able to sleep with their two eyes closed rests on your shoulders,” the minister told Immigration officers.