The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Federal Government has commenced the automation of the nation’s border management system for effective surveillance.
Tunji-Ojo stated this during an inspection tour of the ongoing installation of the Command and Control Centre of the project at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.
“The border management solution project that is ongoing has been excellent so far, we have gone very far at the moment and if I am not mistaking, we have gone 60 per cent already.
“The project is not just about air border solution, which is the command and control centre, but even the land border as well as airports and sea border surveillance put together.
“Especially our land borders just as we are all aware are more porous. So, what we are simply doing now, is automating the whole surveillance system for effective management,“ he said.
Tunji-Ojo said that by the time the project became fully operational, security personnel in charge would be able to view whatever was happening at the borders from the command and control centre.
“Going by the pace of work I have seen today, by October the phase I of the whole border surveillance system would have been completed.
“And by that time, we will now be able to view several kilometres away before people can even try to enter the country.
“It will also enable people living within the border areas to be able to communicate directly with the centre in case of any emergency for actions to be taken,“ he said.
This, he said, would also go a long way in making the borders as interactive as possible and safer for everyone.
“President Bola Tinubu’s believe is that a secured border is a safe nation.
“So, securing our border is very key in terms of securing our nation and this present administration is not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to make the country safe for Nigerians.
“I can tell you for anybody who thinks that he or she can perpetrate illegality within our border space have to be prepared to face the music.
“This is renewed hope and we are renewed in the hope in all areas of life including those in our border areas. So, we hope to have very secured border comparable with the best in the world,” he said.
Earlier, the Comptroller-General, NIS, Mrs Kemi Nandap, said that the NIS officers that would be in charge of the project had already been trained for a more secured border.
She expressed optimism that when the project commences, it would go a long way to address cases of crimes and criminality on the borders.
“Only last week, I was in Kebbi to sensitise them on it and that we are going to work together and collaborate with each other for effective border management for the benefit of all,“ she said.
NAN
