Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Wednesday advocated for the review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol against the background that it is being used to undermine Nigeria’s security.
Ortom made the remark in Makurdi when the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, paid him an official visit.
"If the ECOWAS protocol has become a cog in the progress of Nigeria, it is high time we reviewed it," he said.
The governor noted that the current protocol provisions on procedures for trans human movement within ECOWAS member countries should strictly be followed.
He also suggested that the provisions for quarantine services for livestock and prohibition of movement with arms as well as regulations that apply to human beings should be enforced for improved security in the country.
He said that security reports revealed that the heightened insecurity in the country was linked to foreign herdsmen who enter the country without valid documents and compliance with the other regulations, urging the immigration authorities to curtail the excesses of emigrants into the country.
Earlier, the Comptroller General, Babandede expressed sympathy with the government and people of Benue over recent killings in the state as he pledged the support of the service in addressing insecurity in the state.
Babandede added that he was in the state to patrol the border area at Abande in Kwande local government area with a view to check the influx of illegal foreigners into the country.
