The electronic gates (e-gates) mounted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja have been put to test by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the minister, the installation is 99 per cent completed, and the e-gates would be deployed for operations by next week.
Addressing the media, he said the e-gates were being deployed to put an end to human interfaces, reduce bureaucracy and make movement of passengers in and out the country easier than it has ever been.
29 of the e-gates would be deployed in Lagos, four in Enugu and Kano while Port-Harcourt would have five.
He revealed that the Airport Infrastructure and Command and Control Centres have been put through tests. Fake and expired passports were rejected while genuine ones 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 are 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,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo further stated that the era of being delayed with manual scanning by Immigration officers would be a thing of the past once the e-gates become functional.
He emphasized the need for the country to add another improve its national security architecture by bagging about two or three licence verifications.
According to him, the additional licence verifications are important as it helps relevant government agencies to easily flag persons of interest, or those on the watch list.
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