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Security has been significantly heightened at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja as preparations are in full swing for the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
As of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, movement within the premises was tightly monitored, with all passport renewal services suspended for the day.
Nigerians with scheduled biometric capture appointments were advised to reschedule, as NIS officials assigned to handle the process were given the day off.
Additionally, banking services within the NIS premises were shut down, while security operatives maintained strict surveillance over all movements in and out of the facility.
The newly established Command and Control Centre is expected to revolutionise border security and immigration processes.
It is equipped with cutting-edge surveillance and monitoring technology to track the movement of passengers entering and exiting Nigeria’s airports.
The system is linked to all international airports in the country, enabling real-time data sharing on incoming passengers. This connectivity allows for preemptive identification and blocking of high-risk individuals and persons of interest.
The Command Centre is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at modernising Nigeria’s immigration system.
Other critical components of this initiative include the introduction of electronic gates (e-gates) at major airports such as Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, as well as international airports in Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano.
These e-gates are designed to ensure swift passenger clearance in under five minutes, eliminating the need for direct human interaction with immigration officials.
The goal is to facilitate more efficient and transparent passenger processing at the nation’s airports.
Last week, Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed that the NIS had successfully blocked 14 internationally flagged persons of interest from entering Nigeria.
He described the development as a key victory in the nation’s fight against terrorism and cross-border crime. The minister attributed the success to the ongoing border management reforms being championed by the current administration.
