Tunji-Ojo: 30 Seconds Biometric Clearance at Nigeria’s International Airports Begin in March

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

All international airports in Nigeria would now have 30 seconds biometric clearance gates in line with international standards and best practices, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has disclosed.

The federal government installed the facilities for the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), at all international airports in 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, it would provide seamless clearance services for passengers entering the country through any of the International airports.

Speaking to journalists after undertaking a tour of the biometric equipments installed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Command and Control Centre at the NIS Headquarters yesterday, Tunji-Ojo said the 30 seconds biometric clearance gates would be ready in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu by March.

He said Lagos would have 17 gates, Abuja 10, Portharcourt and Kano 5 each and Enugu 4.

Tunji-Ojo, while stating that the facilities would be a game changer for effective and efficient management of international passengers in the country, noted that 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 Comptroller of Immigration in Charge of the Abuja International Airport, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said whatever was happening within the airports domains would be seen real time at Command and Control Centre to enable security agencies monitor persons of interest entering the country.

The Minister also 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 determine 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 hardwares 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. And 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 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.”