The Federal Government has announced the arrest of 10 suspects listed on the International Criminal Police Organisation’s (INTERPOL) watch list within a single week, highlighting Nigeria’s enhanced border security measures.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during the inauguration of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Technology Innovation Complex in Abuja on Tuesday.
LEADERSHIP reports that the new facility was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu.
“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 revealed.
Tunji-Ojo credited the recent arrests to the sophisticated facilities installed at the NIS complex. “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 minister explained that the new complex will strengthen border security by assessing the risk level of travellers, detecting irregular migration patterns, and monitoring unmanned border areas.
As part of the project, a 0.5KW solar power station was installed to ensure sustainability and cost efficiency. “The solar power plant is 100 per cent ready and connected to the facility to power it,” said Tunji-Ojo. He added that the plant would save the country over N300 million annually.
“We decided to do an end-to-end solution. One that has an energy solution to power this facility. 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 train 250 officers. We run shifts of eight hours three times a day, ensuring 24/7 surveillance,” he stated.
The minister also highlighted the benefits of the new automated visa system, which guaranteed visa approval within 48 hours, and the ECOWAS travel document, which facilitated seamless regional travel.
President Tinubu commended the NIS for the groundbreaking passenger surveillance technology that led to the recent arrests. He described the innovation as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s security and development efforts.
“The state-of-the-art data technology-driven passenger surveillance centre by the Nigeria Immigration Service has already flagged and arrested 10 persons of interest just a week after installation,” Tinubu said.
The president emphasized the importance of the complex, which integrates facilities such as the command and control centre for regular migration, an ECOWAS biometric card production centre, and a data centre linked to other government agencies.
“By 2025, we could have achieved a 100 percent new passport regime. We acknowledge that a passport is more of a security document than a travel document and must be treated as such,” Tinubu added.
The facility, named the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC), is expected to enhance border governance, profile high-risk passengers, and boost Nigeria’s reputation within ECOWAS and globally.
