The Federal Government has launched the Regular Migration Control Centre at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, to monitor all international airports in Nigeria in real-time.
The Interior Minister, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed that the centre began 24-hour operations on Monday, following an induction program held about two weeks ago, during an appearance on the Politics Today programme on Channels Television on Tuesday.
“The command center is 100% complete. As a matter of fact, we did the induction program about two weeks ago. Just yesterday we started the 24-hour operation of the command and control centre in the Nigerian Immigration Service Headquarters in Sauka, Abuja. It covers all the international airports in the country,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
The minister explained that the centre is equipped with the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), which enables the pre-profiling of passengers before they arrive in Nigeria.
He noted that the system is integrated with global databases, including INTERPOL and national criminal records, allowing authorities to track passengers’ travel history, including routes taken and countries visited in recent weeks or months.
The Interior Minister further noted that integration with land and sea borders is underway to expand the centre’s coverage. Once completed, the Regular Migration Control Centre will monitor Nigeria’s major entry points comprehensively.
By monitoring international airports and expanding to other entry points, the system enhances the ability to deter illegal migration, streamline passenger processing, and strengthen the nation’s overall security apparatus.
What you should know