Lagos, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that several individuals on Interpol’s red list have been arrested at Nigerian airports within a two-day period. The minister revealed that these individuals, wanted by various European countries, were intercepted upon entering Nigeria, a feat attributed to significant investments in border surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Speaking at a regional workshop on Maritime Border Security in Lagos, Mr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the effectiveness of enhanced security measures. “Within two days, a lot of people on the Interpol red list were arrested at our airports,” he stated, adding that these individuals originated from countries including Italy and the Republic of Ireland. “These people would have come into Nigeria 18 years ago, but now we know that in terms of our air terminals, they are in sync because it’s integrated into the central system.”
The minister further disclosed that Nigeria now possesses an Advanced Passenger Information (API) solution, a capability that was previously absent. This technology allows immigration officers to pre-profile passengers, querying their backgrounds, records, antecedents, and travel histories before they even arrive in the country. “We never had that capacity before President Bola Tinubu came on board, but today… NIS has that, so if you’re coming into Nigeria today, before you come, we know everything about you,” Mr. Tunji-Ojo asserted. He added that this capability helps Nigeria fulfill its international obligations under UN resolutions concerning API solutions.
Earlier at the workshop, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, underscored the critical role of the Service in maritime border security. She stressed the importance of preventing foreign terrorist fighters and other criminal elements from exploiting Nigeria’s territorial integrity. Ms. Nandap also highlighted how maritime insecurity, including illegal oil bunkering, piracy, and armed robbery, poses a significant threat to vessel and crew safety in the Gulf of Guinea.
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