Tinubu Insists Nigerians Are One
President Bola Tinubu has pleaded that Nigeria should not be allowed to disintegrate on the altar of political differences, calling for peace and unity in the country even though he insisted that Nigerians are one no matter the divide.
He appealed on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS in Abuja.
He described Nigerians as occupants of one building but living in different rooms.
In his keynote address, President Tinubu said, “The integration of security, whether air, land, or sea embarked upon by the ministry, is a fulfillment of a dream.
“From the beginning of our administration, you promised to deliver and execute innovative solutions across the government, including the NIS”, he said.
He commended the Interior Minister for his developmental strides, saying what he has “achieved in passport alone has given this country great reputation internationally. I thank you. We must thank you.”
Tinubu said he is proud of the NIS for taking pride in being a frontline security agency in the country.
“Our visa approval centre will provide a one-stop shop for visa applications. What more? Nigerians and visitors can travel with ease, establish business partnerships with ease, and live honestly with each other. As I always say, the world is getting smaller with ICT, and the house is just a house for all of us. We hear political cracks here and there. We are one family, living in the same house but staying in different rooms. And it is in our hands to do justice to our children.
The president added, “The centre being commissioned today should provide a sustained communication architecture linking relevant agencies with collaborative technology along a trusted information network. I am very proud of those who are involved and the leadership that you have demonstrated.”
Tinubu said a rejig of the Immigration Service and air travel will benefit Nigeria tremendously by making entry and exit easier.
At the event, Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the idea of the Technology Innovation Complex, which houses the NIS Command and Control Centre, was first mooted 18 years ago. Still, due to rivalry among some agencies and the lack of political will to see the idea to fruition, the complex could not be built.
Speaking on the several benefits derivable from the project, the Interior minister said the complex is not just about immigration, as all ministry agencies can now share information in real-time, harmonize data, and respond to issues efficiently.
He said, “The Command and Control Centre that we have is not just about the Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record API/PNR system. Even our border posts—over 200 points today, real-time entry and exit, over 5km in and out—are watching the borders and getting information to escalate to the armed forces when needed. Even our marine and air borders are covered.
“Let me say what we commission today is a massive complex. It is not just about immigration because when we came on board, we realized that we were spending money on different agencies, wasting billions every year, and we decided to create a center point where all of us could feed.
“We started with an idea of 1.4 petabytes, but what we have today is 8.3 petabytes, one of the largest in the world, meaning that all the agencies in the Ministry of Interior can work together harmoniously and exchange data and at the end of the day be able to respond in record time to any emergency or security threat.
Also, we decided that people who aspire to go to some West African countries to do business might not be able to afford the little money for a passport, so here we have an ECOWAS ID Card project. The travel document will be available for people even at the ladder’s lower rungs.
“Before Your Excellency came to office, we had a discretionary visa regime, but now we have an automated service. You apply online, and it goes through several checks, including watch lists and the visa is issued within 48 hours.
“Also, we have the Correctional Information Management System. It has already been deployed. We saw what happened during jailbreak some years ago. It was difficult to get the identities and biometrics of the escapees. Still, when we had the flood in Maiduguri, in less than three to four hours, we had all information ready and shared with all security agencies, which led to the apprehension of so many of them”, said Dr Tunji-Ojo.
For his part, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, said he and his Interior counterpart resolved to tackle interagency rivalry and deliver a world-class project for the benefit of Nigerians upon assumption of office.
Keyamo said the project is an example of interministerial cooperation between Interior and Aviation.
He said: “This initiative had been mooted many years ago in the past government, but there was constant friction between both ministries as to who should be in charge.”
Keyamo added that the situation changed when he and the interior minister came on board and decided that the project must benefit the country.
He noted that of the 54 African countries, Nigeria is one out of seven with the system in place, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Speaking on the project, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service (CGIS), Kemi Nandap, said the complex is more than just a building. It is a bold step in modernizing immigration infrastructure and a powerful tool in NIS’ ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation’s borders, manage migration effectively, and enhance national security.
She said the facility has achieved certification with the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO and integrated with the International Air Transport Association IATA, further ensuring the integrity and accountability of individuals entering our country.
She said, “Additionally, BATTIC is a multifaceted complex comprising several critical components that will play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s security and migration management. These include the Command-and-Control Centre for Regular Migration, the NIS Data Centre and Visa Approval Centre, the Interior Data Centre, the Passport Personalization Centre, the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) Centre, and the 0.5KW Solar Farm.
Each of these components has been meticulously designed to meet international standards, ensuring that Nigeria not only catches up with global trends but becomes a leader in managing migration data.
“At the heart of BATTIC’s mission is its ability to manage and analyze varying levels of data efficiently, using state-of-the-art technology. Allow me to highlight some of the key functions and capabilities of this remarkable facility:
“Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) Analysis: This enables us to assess the risk levels of passengers even before they arrive in Nigeria or depart from their country of origin.
“Identification of Suspicious Travel Patterns: By analyzing travel data, we can detect anomalies that may indicate potential security threats.
“24/7 Surveillance: The complex will support real-time video surveillance to monitor unmanned border areas across the federation, ensuring a constant watch on border activities.
She disclosed that BATTIC will facilitate seamless communication across all levels—from Border Patrol Units to Border Control Posts, State Commands, the Service Headquarters, and the Ministry of Interior.
She said: “Cross-Referencing with National and International Watchlists: Data will be cross-checked against various national and global security databases, including INTERPOL, to ensure no security threats slip through the cracks.
“BATTIC will serve as the central hub for our digital infrastructure, dramatically enhancing our surveillance capabilities, streamlining migration management, and strengthening our national security framework.
Operationalizing the Solutions in this facility will enhance migration management in Nigeria. With its advanced analytics, BATTIC will allow us to monitor migration patterns, better control border points, and prevent illegal crossings,” the CGIS added.
