The Federal Government has opened a new control centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja, which will now track all international airports in Nigeria in real-time, 24 hours a day.
The Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, explained on Channels Television on Tuesday that the centre, called the Regular Migration Control Centre, began full operations on Monday after a recent induction program.
“The command center is 100% complete… 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,” he said.
This new centre uses the Advance Passenger Information System, which allows officials to check passengers before they arrive in Nigeria by accessing global databases, including INTERPOL and national criminal records. This way, authorities can track passengers’ travel histories, routes, and any suspicious records.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed plans to expand the centre to include Nigeria’s land and sea borders for a more complete view of all major entry points into the country. He added that a 0.5MW solar farm powers the control centre and other facilities at the NIS headquarters, ensuring smooth 24-hour operations without power disruptions.
The launch of this centre is part of the government’s efforts to boost border security. By closely monitoring international airports and soon other entry points, the new system aims to improve security, reduce illegal migration, and make passenger processing faster.
In June, Tunji-Ojo explained that the government had integrated the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record technology with INTERPOL’s global database to help prevent terrorists and people with suspicious backgrounds from entering Nigeria.
This project was a joint effort by the Ministries of Interior, Aviation, and Aerospace Development.
