The Nigeria Immigration Service will have biometric clearance gates installed at the nation’s international airports, according to proposals finalized by the Federal Government.
By March 2024, the gates at these airports should be operational.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Port Harcourt International Airport, and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu are the Nigerian international airports where the facilities will be installed.
When in operation, the gates would offer smooth clearance services to travelers arriving in the nation via any of the foreign airports.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that Lagos would receive 17 gates, Abuja, 10, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu, five each, during Monday’s inspection visit to the international airport in Abuja.
The facilities, he continued, would revolutionize the effective and efficient handling of foreign travelers in the nation.
He said, “I am impressed by the levels and pace of work 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 takes about 30 seconds for a passenger to clear, so I look at the solutions and the hardware, and I think they are top-notch.
“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.”
It is anticipated that this development will put an end to the frequent delays that travelers face at the country’s airports.