The Nigerian government has announced a breakthrough in its border security efforts with the arrest of at least ten individuals flagged as persons of interest, thanks to the newly installed electronic gates (e-gates) at five international airports across the country.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, shared this development during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today program. He emphasized the role of technology in enhancing national security, stating, "The e-gates are integrated with data from the International Criminal Police Organisation and our own security agencies.
This integration allows us to automatically flag individuals of concern, effectively removing human error from the process." Tunji-Ojo highlighted the advanced capabilities of the e-gates, which include detecting fake passports through a sophisticated passenger information system.
"In just a few days, about ten people were apprehended who were persons of interest," he noted. "Nigeria is a no-go area for persons of interest. It's about being able to pre-empt, being able to know and deduce crime beforehand."
The implementation of these automated border control systems marks a proactive step in Nigeria's strategy to combat crime and terrorism. By profiling passengers before they enter the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service aims to prevent potential threats from materializing within its borders.
"You don’t want people to come into Nigeria, commit atrocities, then you now arrest them after people have lost their lives, after properties have been lost," Tunji-Ojo explained.
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