Two persons on Interpol watchlist arrested as FG reaffirms commitment to border security

The Federal Government has stated that the deployment of e-border solutions has significantly strengthened the nation’s border security, asserting that the country now has an “eagle eye” even before persons of interest enter Nigeria’s borders.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing hosted by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

He disclosed that two individuals on the watchlist of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) were apprehended a few days ago, one at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with the help of e-gates installed at the five international airports in Nigeria.

He added that the e-border solutions implemented by the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have enhanced efficient border surveillance, leading to improved national security.

President Bola Tinubu had inaugurated the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Centre, located at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters, to enhance Nigeria’s border security architecture.

The centre houses the Command and Control Centre of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the NIS Data Centre, the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card Centre, the Nigerian Visa Approval Centre, the Interior Data Centre, and the Passport Personalisation Centre, among others.

Tunji-Ojo, who declared that border management in Nigeria is now “business unusual,” said the deployment of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS)/Passenger Name Record (PNR), the installation of e-gates at international airports, and the deployment of border patrol vehicles have equipped security agencies with the capacity needed to protect lives and property in the country.

He lamented that, in the past, the military had taken over the management of internal security in the country due to a lack of capacity among the paramilitary agencies. He noted that this narrative has changed with the advent of President Tinubu, who has ensured that all relevant agencies are provided with the right tools to effectively discharge their mandates.

The Minister, speaking on various reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service, said the country now has a centralised visa approval centre domiciled at the NIS, as well as a centralised passport issuance centre. He stated that this development would enhance the integrity of travel documents.

He added that the government would soon introduce an e-visa application system, enabling applicants to obtain visas within 48 hours.

Tunji-Ojo listed other achievements of his ministry, including clearing over 200,000 backlogs of passport applications, ensuring a sustained supply of adequate passport booklets, establishing additional passport front offices, and rolling out enhanced e-passports at various missions abroad, including Italy, Sweden, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Russia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, among others.

Speaking on the government’s efforts to reposition the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Minister revealed that President Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 custodial centres from city centres, noting that the majority of these centres were built over 100 years ago.

He added that there is ongoing reconstruction and upgrading of facilities in custodial centres, being carried out in phases across the country.

Tunji-Ojo said: “We secured presidential approval for the recruitment of 5,000 personnel to boost the Nigerian Correctional Service’s workforce;

“Secured presidential approval for the recruitment of 100 nurses and 50 medical doctors to improve inmates’ medical well-being; secured presidential approval for the posting of NYSC medical corps members to the custodial centres;

“Promoted over 3,000 senior and junior correctional officers in 2024; ensured the prompt payment of staff salaries and entitlements; and secured presidential approval for the upward review of inmates’ feeding rates from N750.00 to N1,125.00 per inmate per day.

“The Service has concluded arrangements with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for the biometric data capturing of inmates. The Service has successfully emplaced measures to safeguard our custodial facilities against external aggressions,” he stated.

He also disclosed that 4,996 staff members were trained between July and December 2024, while 2,053 staff members are currently undergoing training in various correctional training institutions across the country. Additionally, 40 escort duty vehicles have been procured to facilitate the conveyance of inmates to and from courts.

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