The Federal Government has announced the apprehension of at least 10 individuals on Interpol’s watch list as they attempted to enter Nigeria.
The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this to President Bola Tinubu during the unveiling of the Technology Innovation Complex at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja.
President Tinubu was in Sauka to inaugurate the Data Complex, which includes the Command and Control Centre for regular migration, the NIS Data Centre, the ECOWAS Biometric Card Production Centre, the Interior Data Centre, and a 0.5KW solar power plant.
The interior minister stated that the newly established facility would evaluate the risk levels of individuals entering the country, identify irregular migration patterns, and monitor unmanned borders in hard-to-reach areas nationwide.
“In the last few days, we apprehended 10 individuals from the Interpol and immigration wanted list within the span of one week. Previously, these people could have entered Nigeria and caused chaos. We have now made it clear that, under the new leadership, Nigeria is a no-go area for criminal elements,” he explained.
Tunji-Ojo added that, in addition to the operational 0.5KW solar power plant, 250 trained officers are working in eight-hour shifts to ensure constant border surveillance.
“We opted for a comprehensive solution, including an energy source to power this facility. The 0.5KW solar power plant is fully operational and connected to support the facility.
“Moreover, the human element is crucial; you can construct a building, but the personnel are equally important. We have trained 250 officers who are currently maintaining 24/7 surveillance with three shifts of eight hours each,” he continued.
Tunji-Ojo also projected that Nigeria would save over N300 million annually with the new facility.
He stated, “Nigeria has been expending billions each year, but with this state-of-the-art technology, we expect to save over N300 million annually.
“We have introduced an ECOWAS travel document to facilitate smoother movement, and for the first time in history, we now fully oversee over 200 borders and manage border governance.
“Our automated visa regime ensures approval within 48 hours. In terms of Correctional information management, we successfully shared data among security agencies in under three hours during the flooding in Maiduguri.”
The minister commended the National Security Adviser’s office for its support, noting that the centre will operate around the clock.
The complex consists of seven essential components, including a data centre, command and control centre, visa approval centre, ECOWAS centre, and a solar farm.
