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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ogun state command, and the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ogun state have pledged to deepen their working relationship, describing each other as indispensable partners in national security and public enlightenment.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Correspondents’ Chapel to the Ogun state command headquarters of the NIS in Abeokuta, Tuesday.
Speaking during the visit, the Comptroller of Immigration, Ogun state Command, Ganiyu Oladele Olubunmi, emphasised that effective service delivery by security agencies relies heavily on the media to reach the public.
Comptroller Olubunmi described the NIS and the media as twin partners in progress whose collaboration is essential for building a well-informed society.
He noted that as a critical service provider, the Immigration Service cannot achieve its operational mandates in isolation without relying on the media as an effective communication pipeline.
”NIS and the media are partners in progress. We are a service provider, and for all these services, there must be a channel. That is where journalists come in,” the Comptroller stated.
He stressed that no public institution can function effectively in a silo, adding that his command remains fully open to press inquiries and constructive engagements.
”We cannot do it alone, and we would like this collaboration to continue. My doors are open for any inquiries in Ogun State,” he assured.
Comptroller Olubunmi further emphasised the strategic position of journalists in bridging the gap between security agencies and members of the public.
He explained that the media remains the sole vehicle capable of accurately projecting the command’s anti-crime drives, border management initiatives, and administrative updates to the wider society.
Highlighting some of the core operational priorities of the command, Olubunmi noted that the NIS routinely engages in public sensitization against regular and irregular migration pitfalls.
He stated that the command actively combats human trafficking, trans-border crimes, and unlawful migration through continuous public awareness campaigns across border communities and urban centers.
The Comptroller, however, admitted that such public sensitization efforts would remain largely ineffective without the robust reach and amplifying power of the media.
”We also engage in sensitization on irregular migration, human trafficking, and others. All this awareness cannot be effective without the media,” Olubunmi added.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Yetunde Fatungase, lauded the Nigeria Immigration Service for its frontline role in safeguarding national borders and regulating migration.
Fatungase noted that journalists recognize the vital contributions of the Service to national security, public safety, passport issuance, residence documentation, and the general management of foreign nationals within the state.
She explained that while the NIS delivers essential security services, the media bears the responsibility of translating complex immigration policies and procedures into clear, accurate, and accessible information for the public.
The Chapel Chairman called for the establishment of structured and reliable channels for prompt information sharing, including regular media briefings, designated public relations contacts, and swift responses to press inquiries.
Fatungase reaffirmed the chapel’s dedication to ethical journalism, rigorous fact-checking, and balanced reporting, reassuring the Command that media collaboration will help combat fake news, clarify border regulations, and support public safety across Ogun State.
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