The Department of Sociology kicked off its town and gown series for the Alpha Semester of the 2023-2024 Academic Session, with an impactful seminar on the importance of sociologists in the Nigerian immigration process. The seminar, titled, ‘The Role of the Sociologist in the Realization of the Core Mandate of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS)’, was presented by Assistant Controller of Immigration (ACI), Leo Moses Muazu.
While delivering his lecture, ACI Muazu, who is also the Head, Investigation and Forensic, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, explained that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), plays a crucial role in managing migration, ensuring border security, and facilitating the movement of people in and out of the country.
As a multidimensional organization, he said, the NIS faces various challenges in fulfilling its core mandate. The seminar, he said, aims to explore the role of sociology in realizing the core mandate of the Nigerian Immigration Service and its significance in addressing contemporary societal issues related to migration and border management.
He pointed out that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), originated during Nigeria's colonial era under British rule, and gave an overview of the history of the Nigerian Immigration Service. He stated that during the British colonial rule, the administration of immigration matters in Nigeria, was primarily handled by the British authorities, and the British Colonial Government later established the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1958 as a department under the Nigerian Police Force.
“After Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, the Nigerian Immigration Service continued to operate as a department under the Nigerian Police Force. However, recognizing the need for a specialized agency to handle immigration matters, the Nigerian government passed the Immigration Act of 1963, which formally established the Nigerian Immigration Service as a separate entity,” He explained
Dr Moses elucidated that the core mandate of the immigration service is the control of persons entering or leaving Nigeria, the issuance of travel documents, including Nigerian passports, to bonafide Nigerians within and outside Nigeria, issuance of residence permits to foreigners in Nigeria, border surveillance and patrol, law enforcement and regulation with which they are directly charged, and performance of paramilitary duties within and outside Nigeria as may be required of them under the authority of immigration act of 2015.
He mentioned that sociology, as a discipline, can be instrumental in helping immigration officers in actualizing their core mandate in several ways. “Sociology helps Immigration Officers understand the cultural norms and practices of different countries or regions. This knowledge allows them to identify behaviors that may be considered unusual or suspicious based on cultural context, rather than making assumptions based on their own cultural biases,” He averred
He explained that knowledge of sociology provides insights into non-verbal communication patterns, such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures, that vary across cultures, and immigration officers can use this knowledge to interpret passengers' non-verbal cues and assess their intentions or level of comfort. “Sociology studies human behavior in different social contexts. Immigration officers can use this knowledge to identify patterns of behavior that may indicate suspicious activities, such as evasiveness, inconsistent stories, or unusual travel patterns.” He stated.
He further explained that Sociology emphasizes the study of social interactions and communication patterns. Immigration Officers can benefit from this knowledge to improve their communication skills, both in dealing with migrants and collaborating with other stakeholders. Effective communication, he said, is crucial for maintaining security, managing visa and passport applications, and addressing concerns or grievances.
In conclusion, Dr. Moses reiterated that sociology as a discipline helps Immigration Officers actualize their mandate by providing a deeper understanding of migration patterns, promoting cultural sensitivity and integration, addressing social issues, enhancing communication and interactions, and contributing to policy development and evaluation and this knowledge enables Immigration Officers to perform their duties more effectively, ensuring the smooth and secure movement of people in and out of Nigeria.