Nigeria now has capacity to track visa over-stays – Interior Minister
Nigeria Enhances Visa Overstay Tracking Capabilities, Minister Says
Nigeria has strengthened its ability to monitor visa overstays with the introduction of its Integrated Operation Centre (IOC), according to Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior.
Tunji-Ojo made the announcement at the Ministry of Interior and its Agencies’ 2026 Sectoral Retreat in Abuja on Thursday. The event, themed “Accountable Leadership, Measurable Impact: Reviewing Results, Renewing Commitments,” highlighted the ministry’s advancements in border management.
The Minister stated that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) can now maintain real-time records of travelers entering the country and effectively track those who exceed their visa duration.
“The IOC, which includes cyber security and network operating units, employs an AI-driven, multilayered system aimed at enhancing border and migration management as well as expatriate administration,” Tunji-Ojo explained. He further quantified this capability, asserting, “We can now know the exact number of people that have overstayed in our country and make that information available.”
Tunji-Ojo emphasized the ministry’s readiness to pursue immigrants who have overstayed their visas, mirroring practices in other nations. “With the NIS we have today, I am proud to say our border is standing on a firm foundation of technology,” he added.
Despite these advancements, the minister noted that significant work remains. He stated that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) must capture data from all Nigerians to fully address the challenges at hand. “Until every Nigerian is captured, we cannot say we have succeeded,” he said.
He also acknowledged the achievements of President Bola Tinubu within the ministry, while stressing the necessity to identify and rectify shortcomings. “We are interested in perfection. If it is not 100 percent, then it is not 100 percent,” Tunji-Ojo remarked.
The minister indicated that there would be consequences for failing to meet targets, urging agency heads to intensify efforts in alignment with the president’s security agenda. “This is the era of business unusual; hence we have to deliver,” he concluded.
