Olayiwola Matthew
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says security operatives have arrested 10 persons on INTERPOL’s watch list while entering Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Technology Innovation Complex.
“In the last couple of days, there were 10 people who were on the INTERPOL and immigration wanted list who were apprehended in one week,” the minister said.
“Before now, those people would have entered Nigeria, causing terror. But we have now told them that under the new leadership, Nigeria is a no-go area for any criminal element.”
The data complex comprising the command and control centre (regular migration), NIS Data centre, ECOWAS biometric card production centre, interior Data Centre, and a 0.5KW solar power plant were among the facilities unveiled by the president.
The minister said 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.
Tunji-Ojo said the solar power station was constructed to cut costs and drive sustainability, noting that the plant would save over N300 million annually.
“We decided to do an end-to-end solution. One that has an energy solution to power this facility. The 0.5KW solar power plant is 100 percent ready here, and it has been connected to the facility to power it,” he said.
“Also, the human factor is fundamental because you can build a structure, but how about the human element?
“What we’ve been able to do is to train 250 officers. As I speak, we run shifts of eight hours three times a day, which is 24/7 surveillance.
“Nigeria was wasting billions every year, but with this state-of-the-art technology, the country will save over N300 million annually.
“We now have an ECOWAS travel document that will facilitate easy movement and travel, and for the first time in the history of this country, we now have over 200 borders, and we are fully in charge of the border governance, watching over them.
“We now have an automated visa regime with 48 hours of visa approval.”
Tunji-Ojo said he remained committed to improving service delivery for Nigerians.