The Ministry of Interior has achieved major milestones in bolstering national security with its innovative e-border solutions.
Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed this on Thursday during a Ministerial Press Briefing at the National Press Centre in Abuja, highlighting the ministry’s key initiatives aimed at combating smuggling, terrorism, and illegal immigration.
Others include the establishment of a Command-and-Control Centre, deployment of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and Passenger Name Record (PNR), installation of e-Gates at international airports, and the deployment of border patrol vehicles.
Tunji-Ojo said that the inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) which houses critical facilities such as the NIS Data Center, ECOWAS Biometric Card Production Center, and Visa Application Centre is also part of the ministry’s achievements.
According to him, the ministry has also reviewed the National Border Management Strategy to enhance operational efficiency.
Persecondnews reports that Nigeria’s borders, particularly those in the North and with Benin Republic, are often described as porous, leading to security challenges and facilitating illegal activities like drug and human trafficking.
The Benin-Nigeria border is considered one of the most porous due to its proximity to major economic hubs and the ease of crossing through informal routes.
The border is often used for smuggling goods, including weapons, drugs, and counterfeit products.
Since 2024, the Ministry of Interior has made significant achievements and reforms in border governance, including border assessment tours to evaluate border conditions, enhance interagency collaboration, and strengthen community relations.
Persecondnews reports that the ministerial media briefings will allow Nigerians the opportunity to interrogate the activities of ministers in line with the president’s directive that all ministers must give account of what they do periodically.
Details shortly…
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