NIS Eyes Aircraft and Drones for Border Surveillance

Mrs. Caroline Adepoju, the acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), has announced plans to procure aircraft, helicopters, and drones. This strategic acquisition aims to strengthen the country’s border security and management capabilities.

Speaking at a retreat organized by the NIS at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command in Lagos State, themed ‘One Impression: Inter-agency collaboration,’ Adepoju stressed the importance of surveillance equipment such as drones and helicopters for monitoring the movement of people and items across the nation’s borders.

Highlighting the historical context, Adepoju mentioned that the NIS had previously possessed its own aircraft for border surveillance, expressing the service’s commitment to reinstating this capability. “We are working to ensure that NIS gets its aircraft back. We used to have aircraft for border surveillance. We are now putting this into our budget,” she stated, adding, “We are going to buy aircraft, we will buy drones. We are going to buy helicopters to ensure that we effectively do aerial border management.”

Looking ahead, Adepoju outlined the NIS’s vision for deploying electronic gates by 2024 to facilitate the seamless passage of nationals through air, land, and sea borders. The electronic gate, employing biometric identity verification, is anticipated to provide a streamlined experience for travelers, reducing the need for direct interaction with immigration officers.

“Very soon, NIS will be deploying the e-gate to make it seamless for our nationals to come in, making it less stressful,” Adepoju affirmed. “In the early part of 2024, we will deploy the e-gate, ensuring that our MIDAS will improve on them, ensuring our borders, air, land, and sea are fortified.”

The introduction of the electronic gate is expected to revolutionize border control, offering a more efficient and secure process for travelers. Adepoju emphasized that nationals, unless deemed persons of interest, may not need direct interaction with immigration officers.

The newly appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values and Social Justice, Mr. Fela Durotoye, encouraged collaborative efforts among agencies working at the airport, emphasizing the importance of disseminating relevant intelligence.

Commending the collaborative initiatives, the Comptroller of NIS, MMIA Command, Mrs. Adeola Adesokan, highlighted the positive impact on national development, particularly in attracting investors.

In response, Mr. Kabir Yusuf, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, represented by Mr. Sunday Ayodele, underscored the need for infrastructure support to enhance facilitation at the airport. He credited the collaborative efforts among agencies at the Lagos Airport for the continuous benefits in the air travel value chain.