President Bola Tinubu is set to inaugurate the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Command and Control Centre at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, security was heightened around the NIS headquarters, and services for Nigerians seeking to renew their passports or undergo biometric capturing were temporarily suspended. Applicants with scheduled appointments were asked to reschedule, as several NIS officials assigned to these tasks were given the day off.
Banks operating within the premises were also shut down, with security personnel closely monitoring movements in and out of the facility.
The new Command and Control Centre is equipped with advanced surveillance and monitoring technology designed to oversee passenger movements at Nigeria’s international airports. The system allows real-time access to passenger data from outside the country, enabling authorities to identify and block the entry of individuals flagged as persons of interest.
This facility is part of a broader reform initiative by the Tinubu administration to enhance air travel efficiency and border security. Complementing the centre are electronic gates (e-gates) installed at major international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano. These e-gates are designed to expedite passenger clearance within five minutes without human interaction, streamlining immigration processes.
Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo recently highlighted the success of these reforms, revealing that 14 flagged individuals were prevented from entering Nigeria last week. This achievement, he noted, represents significant progress in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, demonstrating the effectiveness of the government’s renewed focus on border management.
The Command and Control Centre and its associated reforms underscore the administration’s commitment to modernizing immigration operations and ensuring national security.
