By Aliyu Abdulwahid
The Presidency has highlighted the impressive progress of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in solving security problems between 2015 and 2023.
The president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a 90-page document released Sunday in Abuja, said the notable interventions had had a positive impact on changes in the paramilitaries.
Mr. Buhari was elected to the position on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform after defeating then-President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
He took office on May 29, 2015. In his inaugural address, the president stated that his administration would focus on the economy, fight corruption, and provide security.
These three big, bold ideas made the case for CHANGE in 2015, and the president never lost sight of them.
Mr. Adeshina said that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has built and completed, since 2016, 17 command office complexes in Nigeria, with another four in progress (Rivers, Kogi, Bauchi and Ondo).
He said that NIS has launched 16 new Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Nigeria and launched, on January 15, 2019, an enhanced ePassport and booklet with a validity of 10 years.
He also said that NIS has implemented Enhanced e-Passport Production Centers in Nigeria and in London, Washington DC, among others.
According to him, some of these achievements are the NIS National Border Management Strategy 2019-2023
“In addition, NIS implemented, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the global Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) at five International Airports and 17 Border Crossing Points.
“The implementation of MIDAS at Abuja International Airport was described by the IOM as “the largest implementation of MIDAS at any airport globally, to date,” he said.
The presidency said that NIS had also built and inaugurated, in 2021, a Technology Complex at the NIS headquarters, which houses a Command and Control Center.
This, he said, was able to carry out real-time online monitoring of movements in and out of Nigeria at all ports of entry and exit.
He also said that this was also connecting and sharing information with relevant agencies and Nigerian missions abroad.
“Nigeria, in September 2020, successfully completed the upload of more than 150,000 stolen and lost travel documents into the Interpol database,” it said.
Meanwhile, in 2021 and 2022, the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested some 24,000 drug traffickers, including 29 barons.
The presidency added that the agency ensured the conviction of more than 3,400 offenders.
Adeshina said the NDLEA also seized more than 5,500 tons (5.5 million kilograms) of a variety of illicit drugs.
“The value of seized drugs and cash amounted to more than N450 billion, while 772.5 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed.
“In 2021, the NDLEA launched the new Nigerian National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2021-2025,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr. Adeshina said that Mr. Buhari in 2020 granted amnesty to 2,600 prisoners across the country as part of criminal justice reforms.
The presidency declared that the beneficiaries were those over 60 years of age and those who suffered from health problems that were likely to lead to death.
“Convicts who are serving three years or more and have less than six months to serve were also included.
“Inmates with mental health defects and inmates with an outstanding fine not exceeding N50,000 and no pending cases were part of those who received amnesty,” it said.
