The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that a proclamation of the regulations in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard has been issued for the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) in Nigeria.
This marks a significant step forward in the nation’s efforts to enhance border security.
The Minister disclosed this development during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Richard Montgomery, in Abuja.
“Nigeria has struggled with this project since 2003. I am happy to inform you that we have it now. Obviously, this will help in further securing our borders,” said Dr. Tunji-Ojo.
The Minister explained that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) now has the capacity to screen travelers more effectively, with the APIS solution being linked to Interpol 24/7.
“Before people come to Nigeria now, we have the opportunity of knowing who they are, querying their database, and of course, the solution developed is linked with Interpol 24/7, so we have the capacity to screen people in an objective manner. We had to remove subjectivity from our dictionary with regards to border control as much as possible,” he stated.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also highlighted that all the E-gates installed at international airports in Nigeria meet UK standards. These gates can screen passengers in just 24 seconds, the fastest recorded.
“We are doing a lot in border control, and we will still do more. We are building a solar band of 1 Mega Watt to power all critical infrastructure of the NIS. We believe that by doing this, people will begin to have faith in Nigeria,” he added.
In addition to border security, the Minister discussed reforms in the Federal Fire Service, noting that the Ministry is heavily investing in the Fire Academy in Abuja to reach world-class standards.
“We are investing very massively in our Fire Academy in Abuja, and we thought we need to understudy the fire and emergency response system in the United Kingdom. By the Constitution of Nigeria, the main responsibility of the government is the security and protection of lives and property. Fire service is critical in that regard. In a country of 200 million people and with an emerging economy, it is important for us to have a vibrant fire service,” he said.
The Ministry is also working on amending the Federal Fire Service Act to upgrade to a Fire Rescue and Safety Service, emphasizing the importance of safety in contemporary issues.
“I know that fire and emergency response in the UK is top-notch. We need to get the best solution in the world, and it has to be something you can benchmark,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo noted.
The Fire Academy aims to build the capacity of Nigerians and serve as a training hub for West Africa.
Earlier in the meeting, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery congratulated the Minister on the progress made in the Passport system.
Discussions also focused on collaboration to enhance Nigeria’s fire and emergency response system, capacity management, and the National Resilience Programme.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aishetu Ndayako; Regional Migration Manager, Home Office International Operations, David Morath, and top management staff of the Ministry.
