By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA’s UPGRADED border intelligence systems have led to the arrest of multiple international fugitives listed on Interpol’s red notice, according to the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
He disclosed the development while addressing delegates at a regional workshop on maritime border security held in Lagos.
The minister confirmed that within two days, several red-listed individuals were apprehended at Nigerian airports.
Those arrested had arrived from countries including Italy and the Republic of Ireland.
Tunji-Ojo attributed the breakthrough to the deployment of advanced surveillance and intelligence infrastructure across the nation’s border points.
He noted that Nigeria’s air terminals now operate in sync with a central data system, ensuring real-time identification of flagged individuals.
“It means these people would have come in years ago undetected, but now we have the infrastructure to track them the moment they land,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo also highlighted the country’s recent adoption of an advanced passenger information (API) system, enabling immigration officers to pre-profile travellers before arrival.
He described it as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s compliance with global aviation security standards.
Before the system’s implementation, authorities lacked the ability to assess incoming passengers’ backgrounds, travel histories, and security risks.
The minister credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration for driving the upgrade, noting that Nigeria can now fulfil its international obligations under relevant United Nations resolutions.
With the API solution now active, Nigeria’s immigration services can detect suspicious profiles in advance, enhancing national security and reinforcing counter-terrorism cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea region.
