President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace technology as a means to drive economic growth and strengthen the country’s leadership role in Africa.
The President said this on Tuesday at the commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja.
Described by the NIS as a ‘groundbreaking’ initiative and the first of its kind in Africa, the complex centre is aimed at enhancing immigration service governance and management to ensure national security.
According to Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, President Tinubu emphasised the need for technology integration in Nigeria to foster an innovative, knowledge-based economy that will drive the country’s progress as an African leader.
“This is the fulfilment of a dream,” Tinubu said. “From the beginning of our administration, we promised to deliver. Nigeria is making tremendous progress.”
Dare noted that the NIS digital centre, an 18-year-old project completed by the President in just one year, ensures Nigeria’s full compliance with ICAO’s Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) and offers a modern, tech-driven solution for border security. The centre will enable the Immigration Service to detect suspicious travel patterns, conduct biometrics, provide real-time 24-hour surveillance, and more.
“The system protects our borders and enhances national security,” Dare says, adding that with the hub, “Nigeria’s passport system is now a security document with full compliance to international standards.”
A report from the NIS outlined that the complex comprises four technological centres:
Command and Control Centre: This centre will collate and analyse data from airlines and transport providers to identify high-risk passengers and report them to authorities.
Nigeria Immigration Service Data Centre: This centre will serve as the main repository for NIS data and store information from public interactions to aid in planning and decision-making.
The ECOWAS Biometric Card Production Centre: Established to provide secure biometric cards for ECOWAS citizens, this centre aims to prevent counterfeiting and safeguard national security.
Interior Data Centre (IDC): Recognised as the frontline centre, the IDC will monitor border activities in real time using CCTV, drones, and sensors. It will help in coordinating communication and response teams during security breaches.
The NIS states that these centres, while distinct, play interconnected roles aimed at enhancing migration management, border governance, and national security.
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