The federal government has announced that security operatives recently apprehended 10 individuals on INTERPOL’s watch list while attempting to enter Nigeria.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, disclosed this during the inauguration of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Technology Innovation Complex by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday.
He stated that within the past week, 10 people listed on the INTERPOL and immigration wanted lists were apprehended, noting that these individuals could have caused terror in the country. He emphasized that under the current administration, Nigeria is a no-go area for any criminal elements.
The facilities unveiled by President Tinubu, including the command and control centre, NIS Data Centre, ECOWAS biometric card production centre, Interior Data Centre, and a 0.5KW solar power plant, have significantly enhanced the ability to identify individuals with questionable characters.
“The newly installed facility will ascertain the risk level of persons entering the country, detect irregular migration patterns, and monitor unmanned borders in hard-to-reach areas nationwide,” the minister explained.
He highlighted that the solar power plant was constructed to reduce costs and promote sustainability, saving the government over N300 million annually. The facility is powered by the 0.5KW solar plant, which is 100% operational.
Tunji-Ojo further stated that 250 officers have been trained to ensure 24/7 surveillance, working in shifts of eight hours.
The minister lamented the billions wasted annually due to inefficiencies but expressed confidence that the new technology would save the country significant resources. He also noted the introduction of an ECOWAS travel document to facilitate easier movement across borders and announced the implementation of an automated visa regime with 48-hour approval.
President Tinubu praised the technology-driven passenger surveillance system, which enabled the arrest of 10 individuals of interest just one week after installation. He explained that the new system profiles high-risk passengers, monitors suspicious travel patterns, enhances video surveillance along border areas, and integrates data with other international organizations.
The newly commissioned Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the NIS headquarters links all relevant government agencies, placing Nigeria among six African countries with integrated passenger security systems—a project first initiated 18 years ago under former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The President described the project as a significant accomplishment, stating that the complex harnesses technology to drive development. He assured that by 2025, Nigeria would achieve a 100% new passport regime, recognizing the passport as a crucial security document.
The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, emphasized that BATTIC’s mission centers on efficiently managing and analyzing data using advanced technology, setting a new benchmark in border security and national protection.
