IOM and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are training 21
immigration officials to establish a National Intelligence Unit at
the NIS HQ in the capital Abuja.

The two-week programme, which ends today, is part of a USD 12.7
million European Union-funded IOM project: "Promoting Better
Management of Migration in Nigeria."

It addressed a range of intelligence issues facing the NIS,
including interview techniques, briefing and debriefing,
investigation and case management, as well as the development of a
National Intelligence Model for Nigeria.

"The Nigeria Immigration Service sees the development of a
National Intelligence Unit as crucial in achieving its identified
targets.  The training for the Unit provided by IOM is a
substantial step in its development," said the Head of the Unit,
Ubi Ikpi Nkanu.

In the coming months, IOM will also equip the Unit with
computers, software and relevant training to allow the Unit to
process raw information and develop intelligence packages for
dissemination to appropriate Nigerian law enforcement
agencies. 

Nigeria became an IOM member state in 2002 and experiences
widespread irregular migration. It is also a source, transit and
destination country for women and children subjected to forced
labour and sex trafficking, according to the US State Department's
2011 Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Report.

The NIS and IOM anticipate that that the National Intelligence
Unit will introduce a more coherent approach to information and
intelligence gathering needed to combat trafficking in Nigeria.

As the NIS is also responsible for issuing passports, relevant
information processed and intelligence generated by the Unit is
also expected to help to ensure that the integrity of the passport
issuance process is not compromised.

For more information please contact

Mark Richmond

IOM Abuja

Tel. +234 98766856 ext. 107

Email: "mailto:mrichmond@iom.int">mrichmond@iom.int