National Security: Nigerian Government directs increased surveillance at borders over planned protest

*Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, urges increased surveillance over the planned nationwide protest, directing all Comptrollers of Border Commands to ensure all border officers ‘work assiduously to prevent unscrupulous foreign elements’ from entering the country for any sinister motive

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In view of the planned nationwide protest over the current economic hardship, tagged: #EndBadGovernance and slated to begin August 1, 2024, in Nigeria, the Federal Government has directed tightened security at the West African country’s border to further forestall the breakdown of law and order.

The Service, in a statement, said Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), had issued the directive.

ConsumerConnect reports that in several moves to avert the planned protest, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some state governors have been meeting with relevant stakeholders, while traditional and religious leaders, as well as other notable Nigerians have made efforts at appealing for calm as the government resolves current socio-economic challenges in the country.

The Nigerian leaders have also advocated, urging the organisers of the protest to give the authorities more time to address the challenges facing Nigerian consumers.

The statement noted: “The Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, KN Nandap pcc, mmis, fsm, has directed Zonal Heads, State Command Comptrollers and Divisional Immigration Officers (DIOS) of the Service across the country to be extra vigilant and step up surveillance in view of the planned nationwide protest by some groups.

“The Comptroller-General further directed all Comptrollers of Border Commands to ensure that all border officers work assiduously to prevent unscrupulous foreign elements from entering the country for any sinister motive.”

“It reminded officers to “display utmost professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.”

Likewise, other security agencies have intensified efforts at securing the country, while and cautioning against the protest since the push for it gained mileage on the social media.

Earlier, Peter Afunaya, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, in a statement, said the DSS acknowledged though a peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the Service had confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land.

Afunaya also noted that the Service has identified the reason behind the protest to be political as the plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the Federal and sub-national governments; make them unpopular, and pit them against the masses with a long-term objective of achieving a regime change, especially at the centre.

He stated: “While peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the Service has confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land.”

It has also identified the funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators of the plot, and is therefore, asking parents, guardians, and heads of traditional and academic institutions to advise their children, wards, subjects, and students not to take part in the planned protest, said the DSS.

It further stated that “the Service has also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators of the plot.”

In the same vein, the Nigeria Police has equally alleged that some foreign mercenaries are backing the planned demonstration in Nigeria.

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) subsequently, requested the planners of the proposed protest to submit their personal details to the security agency before the protest.

In the Federal Capital Territory, over 4,200 the Police personnel have been deployed.

It is noted that the planned demonstration over economic hardship has been attributed to increasing economic challenges, including the inflationary trend levels hitting 34.19 percent June 2024.

The situation is majorly triggered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s far-reaching policies of fuel subsidy removal and harmonisation of the exchange rate of the Naira.

Consequently, the cost of essential commodities beyond the reach of millions as inflation eats away the value of the naira, prompting calls for the demonstration.