Nigeria turns to the world’s second-largest economy to share intelligence on border security and discuss issue of mutual interests

• Nigeria and China will collaborate and share intelligence to address irregular migration.
• The partnership was announced after the Nigeria Immigration Service attended a major migration forum in China.
• Over 2,000 delegates from 139 countries and organizations gathered to discuss global migration management and transnational challenges.
• During the event, both nations agreed to work together on technical exchanges, information sharing, and capacity building.

Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, has decided to collaborate and share intelligence with the world’s second-largest economic powerhouse, China, concerning irregular migration.

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the primary administrative body on migration in Nigeria, made the disclosure following its attendance at the Sub-Forum on Migration Management Cooperation in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China.

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Conducted from September 8 to 11, 2026, the forum convened more than 2,000 delegates representing 139 nations and international organizations to foster global cooperation in migration management and address transnational challenges.

In a statement released by the NIS, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, KN Nandap, held a bilateral meeting with the National Immigration Administration of China on the second day of the event.

During the meeting, both parties discussed how to collaborate on technical exchanges, information sharing, and capacity-building initiatives.

“As part of activities lined up for the international event, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, KN Nandap, pcc, fsmn, on the 9th September, 2026, held a bilateral meeting with the National Immigration Administration of China, where both institutions discussed issues of mutual interest and explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration through technical exchanges, information sharing and capacity-building initiatives,” the statement read, as seen on X.

“The second day of the event featured country presentations on migration policy initiatives and efforts to strengthen cooperation among member countries in addressing irregular migration and transnational organised crime.

The programme also featured parallel sessions on Smart Digital Services and Administration for Foreigners and Advancing Document Verification, Technology and Intelligence Sharing for Secure Borders,” it added.

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Nigeria’s border security issue

Nigeria has been consistent in its contention that its most prevalent security challenge stems from its inability to secure its borders.

    A few weeks back, Nigeria’s current president, Bola Tinubu, while addressing Nigerian traditional rulers, remarked that insecurity in the country **was spilling over from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso**.

“Some of them [the terrorists] are not Nigerians. You see, the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is worsening our difficulties,” Tinubu said.

The West African country of Nigeria is known to share its borders with Niger, Benin, Chad and Cameroon, stretching thousands of kilometres, with many areas difficult to patrol effectively.

The Nigerian government has long argued that owing to its massive borders, armed groups have taken advantage of its poorly monitored routes to move people, weapons and supplies into the country.

Nigeria's northeast is particularly affected because of some of these criminal elements and its proximity to unstable parts of the Sahel.