…Says the infrastructure for global passengers’ll become operational next week
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday test-ran the electronic gates (e-gates) mounted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, saying the job was already 99 per cent done.
According to the minister, the e-gates would be deployed for operations next week.
The infrastructure is capable of screening a passenger within a minute on the application of the passenger’s data page on its scanner.
Blueprint reports that the minister was accompanied by the permanent secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Aishetu Ndayako, and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, including other top government officials.
“The e-gates are being deployed to eliminate human interfaces, reduce bureaucracy and make movements of passengers in and out the country seamless,” he said.
He added that 29 of the e-gates would be deployed in Lagos Airport, four in Enugu and Kano while Port Harcourt would have five.
He said further that the airport infrastructure and Command and Control Centres had been subjected to different tests with fake and expired passports, adding that they were all rejected, while genuine passports were cleared.
“With this massive infrastructure, we believe that no unwanted persons or persons of interests can find their ways into Nigeria. Our security through the airports and in the airport domains is guaranteed.
“It is a testimony to what Mr. President told us from day one on his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He asked us to change the narratives and make passengers movements in and out of the country seamless.
“You can see that we have all our team here working in synergy with the authorities of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.
“I must at this point commend the Minister of Aviation, Hon Festus Keyamo (SAN), and other critical stakeholders who have made this transformation possible.”
The minister reiterated the commitment of the present administration to make life easier for the citizens in all spheres of life, stressing that the on-going reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were meant to ensure the safety and security of the citizens.
He commended President Tinubu for the support he gave regarding the on-going reforms, describing the infrastructure provided for the reforms as “massive and unprecedented.”