By: visas / February 26, 2024

The Federal Government has installed 30-second biometric clearance gates for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at all international airports across the country.

The biometric gates have the capacity to screen and clear a passenger within 30 seconds without any interface or contacts with Immigration personnel.

When inaugurated, the gates would provide seamless clearance services for passengers entering the country through any of the international airports.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, explained that the facilities would be ready next month in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Abuja, and Enugu.

The minister said Lagos would have 17 gates, Abuja 10, Port Harcourt and Kano five each and Enugu four.

Tunji-Ojo, who checked the biometric equipment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Command and Control Centre at the NIS Headquarters yesterday, said the facilities would be a game changer for effective and efficient management of international passengers in the country.

He said the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) and the Commandant and Control Centre facilities had been integrated not just for seamless entry and exit for passengers but to add another layer to the nation’s national security architecture.

The minister, who was conducted round the facilities by the Comptroller of Immigration in Charge of the Abuja International Airport, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said whatever was happening within the airports would be seen real time at the command and control centre to enable security agencies monitor persons of interest entering the country.

He said: “I am impressed by the levels and pace of works I have seen here today. The facilities are about 70 per cent ready. This means our border control management system is on track. It also means that the Nigeria Immigration Service is ready to contribute its quota to the national security architecture.”

“The efficiency of the services provided by the NIS determines whatever we see in our security outlook as a nation. All these are being done in line with global best practices and standards and in consonance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to provide quality services to Nigerians.

“We have decided that the more the gates at the airports, the easier it would be for passengers to be cleared. And looking at the ones that have been tested, it is about 30 seconds for a passenger to clear. So, I look at the solutions and the hardware and I think they are a top notch.

“I am happy with the quality of works and I am happy with the prospect of giving Nigerians the experience. Once it is completed, Nigerians will no longer be at the mercy of Immigration officers whenever they arrive in the country.

“Once you check in, you don’t need to have an encounter with Immigration officers anymore except you are a person of interest. This facility is not just for you to pass at record time; no. It is also to secure the nation and add another layer to our national security architecture.

“If a person is a person of interest, he can easily be flagged. And this gives our Immigration support to be able to effectively do their jobs.”

Fed Govt installs 30-second biometric gates for Immigration at airports

https://www.travelnews.co.za/article/el-al-stops-all-sa-flights