The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has plans to strengthen partnership with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to restraint illegal migration through the Lagos waterways.

The agencies revealed this on Thursday, when Joseph Dada, the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, visited the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Sarat Braimah at Marina, Lagos.

He said during the meeting that the agency would function better by achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with NIWA.

“We have some challenges on the waterways even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations,” Dada said.

He explained that even though people had the right to migrate, they had to do it legally.

He added, “We aren’t saying people shouldn’t migrate or japa from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures, but they must do it the right way.

“They have to get their passports and visas and travel through the appropriate channels.”

Dada noted that several Nigerian ladies who had fallen victim of human trafficking were tempted with job offer.

Braimah, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, while welcoming the strategic collaborations with NIS, stressed that both agencies were working for the common good of Nigeria.

Braimah said, “We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life as you observed earlier it fosters tourism, culture and development.

“Nonetheless, we would assist the NIS in achieving their objective which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.”

“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destinations and cannot verify their identity, but are open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks.”