Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, conducted a test run of the electronic gates (e-gates) installed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, asserting that the project is 99 percent complete. He announced that the e-gates would commence operations by next week.
Accompanied by Dr. Aishetu Ndayako, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, and Kemi Nanna Nandap, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, along with other high-ranking government officials, Tunji-Ojo highlighted the purpose of the e-gates. He stated that they aim to eliminate human interactions, reduce bureaucracy, and ensure seamless movement of passengers in and out of the country.
The Minister revealed the distribution plan for the e-gates, with 29 to be deployed in Lagos, four in Enugu and Kano each, and five in Port-Harcourt. He emphasized that thorough testing had been conducted on the Airport infrastructure and Command and Control Centers, with fake and expired passports being rejected while genuine ones were cleared.
Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence in the enhanced security measures provided by the e-gates, stating, “With this massive infrastructure, we believe that no unwanted persons or individuals of interest can gain entry into Nigeria. Our airport security and control are assured.” He credited the initiative to President’s directive under the Renewed Hope Agenda, urging a change in the narrative to facilitate seamless passenger movements.
He commended the Minister of Aviation, Honorable Festus Keyamo (SAN), and other stakeholders for their contribution to the successful implementation of the project, emphasizing the collaborative effort among various government agencies and stakeholders, including the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Customs Service.