The Federal Government on Wednesday stated that it was not treating with levity the report that a terrorist group, the Islamic State, was sending insurgents trained in Syria to the country as part of a terror exchange programme.
The government stated that the development was receiving the necessary attention, noting that all that needed to be done to protect the country was being implemented.
The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (retd.), who disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, explained that the government was doubling its efforts to secure the country.
He said these while responding to questions from journalists shortly after the presentation of curriculum and training manuals for the Nigeria Immigration Service training institutions.
The minister said, “When information like this (influx of ISIS members into the country) comes, we do not take things for granted whether it is true or not because it is security information.
“Before now, we are prepared to ensure that everything we need to do security-wise is being done and such information also raises the alarm and we will double our efforts towards that.”
Speaking earlier while unveiling the training manuals, Danbazau stressed the importance of training to the security services, noting that henceforth, promotion of personnel and career progression would be tied to training and courses attended by the officers.
He said, “If you travel a lot, you will see what happens in other countries. They solely focus on training and they will be sent on courses to determine your career progression.
“We will tie a promotion to every course for every rank. There is a course that is expected that you go through for you to qualify for that rank, there are promotion exams. For progression, training is very important. It is very clear in the immigration rules. There is a need for us to give that motivation. It gives you room to work hard. This will apply to all the (security) services.”
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, disclosed that the curriculum, manuals and teachers guide were prepared by over 30 university professors and professionals.
The documents, he explained, would be used at the NIS Command and Staff College, Sokoto, Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano, Nigeria Immigration Training School, Orlu and the Nigeria Immigration Training School, Ahoada.
“I strongly believe that this initiative will produce well-trained and better-equipped officers and men that will reposition the NIS,” Babandede noted.
