Tunji-Ojo: FG’s new surveillance system nabs international criminals in Lagos

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has announced the recent arrest of several individuals on Interpol’s red list at Nigerian airports. The arrests, he said, were made possible by the federal government’s investment in modern surveillance and intelligence-gathering infrastructure at the nation’s entry points.

Tunji-Ojo disclosed the development on Tuesday while speaking at a high-level regional workshop on maritime border security, held in Lagos. Themed “Regional Maritime Border Security in the Context of Counter Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea,” the event drew regional and international stakeholders to address cross-border threats in West Africa’s waters.

According to the minister, the individuals apprehended came from various countries, including Italy and the Republic of Ireland. He emphasized that their arrest underscores how far Nigeria has come in strengthening its internal security architecture.

“A couple of weeks ago, within just two days, several individuals on Interpol’s red list were intercepted at our airports. One came from Italy, another from Ireland, and others from different nations,” Tunji-Ojo revealed. “These are people who could have slipped into Nigeria unnoticed 18 years ago. Today, our systems are integrated, our terminals are in sync, and our surveillance infrastructure is working.”

He attributed the success to a “robust database” and the recent deployment of Advanced Passenger Information (API) — a key international standard that allows immigration authorities to pre-profile passengers before they arrive.

“Until recently, Nigeria was one of the few countries without an API solution,” the minister admitted. “Our immigration officers couldn’t access the necessary intelligence to screen inbound travellers. But that’s changed. Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, we now can query travel history, criminal records, and other red flags — all before a passenger even boards a flight to Nigeria.”

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Tunji-Ojo noted that the development marks a turning point in Nigeria’s ability to meet international security obligations, particularly those outlined in United Nations counter-terrorism resolutions.

“As of today, if you’re flying into Nigeria, we already know who you are,” he stated confidently. “We know your background, your point of departure, and whether you pose a threat. That’s the kind of intelligence-led security system we’ve built.”