Effective border governance is essential to Nigeria’s national security, economic stability, and overall migration governance. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive and structured approach to border governance, the Government of Nigeria, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and key stakeholders, developed the National Border Management Strategy (NBMS) (2019-2023). With the expiration of the NBMS strategy, it has become imperative to assess its implementation, identify gaps, and update it to address emerging migration trends and security threats, consolidate lessons learned and adopt best practices.
In response to this need, IOM, in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is spearheading efforts to review the NBMS and develop an implementation plan to guide its effective implementation. The aim is to advance border governance and enhance institutional migration data management and analysis and capacities of border management and other relevant institutions to respond to priority needs in border governance, especially in view of the evolving security dynamics. This includes reviewing lessons learned from the implementation of the previous strategy document, aligning the updated strategy with current national, regional, and international priorities.
As part of this process, the NIS has taken proactive steps by engaging a working group headed by the Directorate of Border Management to oversee the review and update of the strategy. The working group has commenced a preliminary review of the National Border Management Strategy, by assessing its effectiveness and identifying key areas for improvement. 
 

The consultant will revise and update the Nigeria National Border Management Strategy (NBMS) (2019–2023) to ensure full alignment with the revised National Migration Policy (NMP), the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, and other relevant regional and global migration and border governance frameworks. The revision will be undertaken in line with Nigeria’s national migration governance structure — specifically working in coordination with the Stakeholders’ Forum on Border Management (SFBM) — to ensure institutional ownership, policy coherence, and sustainability.
The consultant will further develop a detailed action plan that is fully harmonised with national coordination mechanisms, reinforcing whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches and embedding clear implementation responsibilities, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms. 

•     Analyze the implementation of the NBMS (2019–2023), document progress, challenges, and lessons learned to inform strategic revisions.

•     Conduct a comprehensive gap and needs assessment by analysing relevant policy and frameworks, technical and operational structures and capacities to inform the review of the strategy.

•     Assess how existing data collection and analysis mechanisms can inform strategic decision-making. Ensure that the strategy incorporates frameworks for data-driven border management, emphasizing improved data sharing, coordination among relevant agencies, and alignment with international best practices

•     In coordination with IOM Nigeria, design and facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops with relevant government agencies, including security forces, immigration and local authorities, border communities, and international partners to gather insights on current context, prevailing challenges impacting on border governance and management. Recommend good practices to strengthen coordination mechanism towards improved integrated Border Management while achieving national goals.
•     Analyse emerging cross-border security threats and migration patterns, assessing risks and technological advancements (biometrics, AI surveillance, digital border control) to enhance Nigeria’s border security and management efficiency. Use the findings to guide the revision of the Border Management Strategy.

•     Following the consultations and analysis, work with NIS and relevant stakeholders to develop a revised strategic framework that reflects national priorities in addressing gaps and needs, regional integration efforts (ECOWAS), ensure alignment with international frameworks and global best practices. ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach.
•     Work with NIS to design an implementation plan that aligns with the updated strategy and reflects stakeholders’ input, define estimated timelines and phases, roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions, and expected outcomes, supported with a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and clear performance indicators.
•     Facilitate the validation process to ensure endorsement by the Government of Nigeria and facilitate the development of a structured, actionable, and inclusive implementation plan.

  

•     Quality of work: Ability to accurately coordinate with relevant stakeholders.
•     Timeliness: Ability to meet the consultancy timeline and deliver on time.
•     Clarity: Ability to communicate integrated border management and free movement contents clearly and concisely.
•     Understanding: Ability to understand and interpret the complexities of the integrated border management and free movement-related programme.
•     Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with other stakeholders.
•     Adaptability: Ability to adjust to changes in scope or objectives.
•     Knowledge: Understanding of migration data collection and management.  Responsiveness: Ability to provide timely responses to inquiries.

Nature of consultancy 

The consultancy will be hybrid, combining onsite engagement with remote analytical work.

• Onsite: The consultant will be required to conduct in-person stakeholder consultations, workshops, and field assessments in Nigeria, working closely with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other key stakeholders.
• Remote: Desk research, policy analysis, report writing, and coordination with international partners can be conducted remotely.