At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the newly installed electronic gates, or “e-gates,” were tested by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Friday, signaling that the project was nearly finished. He declared that the e-gates would be fully operational by the next week.
Prominent officials accompanied him, such as Aishetu Ndayako, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and Kemi Nanna Nandap, the Comptroller-General of Immigration.
The minister emphasized that the purpose of the e-gates was to remove bureaucratic obstacles and human interfaces to expedite passenger movement.
Plans for deployment call for installing 29 e-gates in Lagos, four in each of Enugu and Kano, and five in Port Harcourt. Tunji-Ojo emphasized the stringent testing of command centers and airport infrastructure to guarantee that valid passports are handled without issue while phony and expired ones are refused.
He emphasized how important e-gates are to enhancing airport security and keeping unauthorized people out of Nigeria.
The minister noted, “With this massive infrastructure, we believe no unwanted persons or persons of interest 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.”
Tunji-Ojo commended the cooperative efforts of several stakeholders, such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, for enabling this ground-breaking project that is in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve both national security and traveler experiences.
“You can see that we have all our team here working in synergy with the authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, 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,” he said.
