New airport E-verification gates to reduce waiting time for arrival, says Interior Minister
Kunle Sanni
The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday, expressed that the new E-verification gate being installed would ensure a reduction in the waiting times for arriving passengers.
He said this when he led a delegation from the Ministry to inspect the ongoing installation of E-verification gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
These state-of-the-art E-verification gates are a major component of the E-Immigration project, aimed at modernizing and optimising immigration processes across Nigeria’s airports.
He said four out of the planned 10 gates have already been installed at the Abuja airport.
The minister added that the remaining six gates will be operational before the end of the month.
Tunji-Ojo expressed satisfaction with the progress made thus far. He emphasized the crucial role of E-verification gates in reducing waiting times for arriving passengers.
“With an impressive clearance time of just 30 seconds per individual, the gates are set to establish a new standard for efficiency in airport processing, comparable to global benchmarks,” the Minister said.
He emphasized that the investment will have a transformative impact and significantly improve national security by adding an extra layer of scrutiny for incoming travellers.
“Through advanced biometric scanning and automated flagging systems, the gates will swiftly identify individuals of interest or those on watchlists, bolstering the efforts of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to safeguard the nation’s borders,” he said.
During the inspection, Tunji-Ojo assessed the progress of construction and installation work at two important facilities housed within the NIS headquarters – the Command-and-Control Centre and the border control data center.
He praised the NIS for their commitment to using advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and security, and for successfully completing over 70% of the infrastructure projects related to these facilities. It is expected that the project will deliver 40 E-verification gates across multiple airports by the end of the first quarter.
These installations will include 10 gates in Abuja, 17 in Lagos, five in Kano, and four each in Enugu and Port-Harcourt.
During the inspection, Tunji-Ojo was accompanied by top officials from the Ministry, including Permanent Secretary Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, Director of Joint Services Peter Egbodo, and Director of Press and Public Relations Ozoya Imohimi.
Nigeria is implementing transformative initiatives to enhance border security, streamline immigration processes, and provide travellers with a safer and more efficient travel experience.
“Nigerians will soon be able to sleep with their two eyes closed, knowing fully well that their borders are well protected, and the Nigerian state is secured,” Tunji-Ojo assured.
