London, UK – Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has called for greater collaboration among countries in the Sahel and West African regions to enhance border security and curb irregular migration. Speaking on the sidelines of the Summit on Border Security in London on Tuesday, Tunji-Ojo emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of information to address cross-border issues effectively.

He highlighted that collaboration and data sharing were essential for stopping security challenges before they escalated. “There is a need for collaboration of countries within the Sahel and West African sub-region for better international partnerships and information dissemination. We need more data sharing and better collaborations to make sure we don’t just solve the problem but we stop the problem from happening,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The summit, which brought together global leaders, aimed at discussing critical border control issues and the threat of organized immigration crimes. Tunji-Ojo noted that the key takeaway from the summit was the need for proactive border management, rather than a reactive approach. He added, “The major takeaway from this summit is proactiveness and not just being reactive as countries are now more poised to criminalize irregular migration.”

Tunji-Ojo also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in improving its border control mechanisms, stating that Nigeria has automated its solutions and implemented measures to tackle irregular migration. “We have automated our solutions as there are more measures in place to ensure the borders are secured and to ensure irregular migration is brought to an end,” he said. He assured that with continued collaboration, the region could effectively combat migration-related challenges.

The summit, attended by over 30 global leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, addressed critical issues surrounding organized immigration crimes and border security.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced the arrest of 51 illegal immigrants in New Nyanya, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The migrants, all from Mali, were apprehended following credible intelligence reports. They are aged between 17 and 25, and include 11 females and 40 males.

According to the NIS Public Relations Officer, A.S. Akinlabi, preliminary investigations suggest that the migrants may be victims of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. “The illegal migrants, all Malians aged between 17 and 25, were arrested at their hideouts following credible intelligence. None of them presented any valid travel documents or residence permits during interrogation,” Akinlabi said. The migrants are currently in NIS custody and undergoing further profiling and investigation.