The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that Nigerian security operatives have apprehended 10 individuals from INTERPOL’s watch list while they attempted to enter the country.
Tunji-Ojo made this disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Technology Innovation Complex by President Bola Tinubu.
“In the last couple of days, 10 people who were on the INTERPOL and immigration wanted list were apprehended within just one week,” Tunji-Ojo said, stressing that under the new leadership, Nigeria has become a “no-go area for any criminal element.”
The newly inaugurated complex, which includes a command and control center for regular migration, an NIS data center, an ECOWAS biometric card production center, an Interior Data Center, and a 0.5KW solar power plant, is aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s border security capabilities. The facility will help assess the risk level of individuals entering the country, detect irregular migration patterns, and monitor hard-to-reach borders that are typically unmanned.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted the cost-saving benefits of the solar power station, explaining that it would save over N300 million annually. “We decided to create an end-to-end solution, one that incorporates an energy solution to power this facility,” he said. “The 0.5KW solar power plant is fully operational and connected to the facility.”
The minister also emphasized the importance of human factors in border security, noting that 250 officers have been trained to ensure round-the-clock surveillance. “We run shifts of eight hours, three times a day, for 24/7 monitoring,” Tunji-Ojo added. He also noted that the new system would significantly reduce Nigeria’s annual expenditure, which had previously been in the billions.
Additionally, he revealed the introduction of an automated visa regime with a 48-hour approval process and the issuance of ECOWAS travel documents, which would facilitate smoother travel across member states. For the first time, Nigeria now controls over 200 borders, ensuring improved border governance.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing service delivery for Nigerians through these innovations.
