Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo yesterday test ran the electronic gates (e-gates) mounted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, asserting that the job is 99 per cent done.
The e-gates, he said, would be deployed for operations by next week. The infrastructure is capable of screening a passenger within a minute on the application of the passenger’s data page on its scanner.
Tunji-Ojo was accompanied on the exercise by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Aishetu Ndayako and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap amongst other top government officials.
He said the e-gates are being deployed to eliminate human interfaces, reduce bureaucracy and make movements of passengers in and out of the country seamless.
The Minister said 29 of the e-gates would be deployed in Lagos Airport, four in Enugu and Kano while Portharcourt would have five.
He disclosed that the airport infrastructures and command and control centres have been subjected to different tests with fake and expired passports, and they were all rejected, while genuine passports were cleared.
Tunji-Ojo said: ”With these massive infrastructures, we believe that no unwanted persons or persons of interests can find their way into Nigeria. Our security, through the airports and in the airport domains is 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.
“You can see that we have all our team here working in synergy with the authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.
“I must at this point commend the Minister of Aviation, Hon Festus Keyamo (SAN) and other critical stakeholders who have made this transformation possible”.
The Minister reiterated the commitment of the present administration to make life easier for the citizens in all spheres of life, insisting that the ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service were meant to ensure the safety and security of the citizens.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for the support he gave regarding the ongoing reforms, describing the infrastructures provided for the reforms as massive and unprecedented.