The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have strengthened their collaboration to tighten border surveillance and prevent foreign interference in Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

The agencies made the commitment on Friday during a sensitisation workshop at the NIS headquarters in Abuja, attended by representatives of security institutions and other stakeholders.

The workshop was themed, “The Role of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Election Monitoring and Management.”

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, said credible elections required effective cooperation among security agencies to address threats before, during and after the voting process.

Nandap, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency, Dr Franca Usiwoma Nwanneka, said the immigration service occupied a strategic position in protecting the country's borders and managing migration.

She identified preventing foreign interference, controlling entry through land, air and maritime routes, and enforcing immigration laws as important responsibilities of the service during the electoral period.

The immigration chief warned that irregular migration, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and other cross-border crimes could undermine national security if not properly addressed.

She urged senior officers to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve surveillance and ensure effective deployment of personnel to border communities and other strategic locations.

Nandap also cautioned immigration personnel against political partisanship, stressing that the service must remain neutral and must not allow official resources to be used in support of any political interest.

The Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, represented by his Deputy for Operations and Intelligence, Patrick Ikenweiwe, said election periods often attracted attempts to smuggle illegal weapons and foreign mercenaries into the country.

He reaffirmed the agency's commitment to working closely with the NIS, particularly in monitoring land borders and other entry points, to prevent activities capable of disrupting the electoral process.

Ajayi urged security personnel to maintain professionalism, neutrality and effective coordination in carrying out their responsibilities.

Also speaking, a representative of the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Prof. Ahmed Audi, said early preparation was essential to protecting the country's electoral process.

He identified preventing foreign interference and monitoring entry points across the country as critical components of election security.

The stakeholders stressed the need for sustained inter-agency cooperation to prevent security threats and create a peaceful environment for the 2027 general elections.