FG Deploys AI, Digital Audit Trails To Track Border Officers, Curb Abuse In NIS

The federal government said it is deploying artificial intelligence-assisted tools and digital audit trails in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to strengthen border security, detect suspicious migration patterns and hold officers accountable for their decisions, as part of efforts to close information gaps exploited by criminals.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday at the closing ceremony of a specialised training programme on border control and immigration management at the NIS headquarters in Abuja, where he outlined the government’s efforts to modernise immigration operations and strengthen coordination among agencies responsible for national security.

Tunji-Ojo said the immigration reforms formed part of a broader governance initiative to connect information systems across agencies under the ministry and reduce security vulnerabilities created by disconnected databases.

He said the government had developed a 10-year technology roadmap and established a data centre with a capacity exceeding eight petabytes, supported by a solar farm that enables the data command and control centre to operate off-grid.

According to the minister, the wider Centralised Interior Management and Administration System (CMAS) was designed to integrate relevant information systems across the ministry, including correctional and fire service administration platforms, while improving coordination with identity management institutions.

He argued that managing migration in a country with more than 200 million people through analogue processes was no longer sustainable, particularly when authorities needed reliable information about the identities and status of people entering, leaving or residing in Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo questioned official records that reportedly put the number of foreign nationals working in the country at about 40,000 when he assumed office, arguing that the figure illustrated the need for more comprehensive data and stronger coordination among government agencies.

“We got into a system where, by official records, we had maybe about 40,000 foreigners or whatever working in Nigeria. In a country of 200 million, that is not possible anywhere in the world,” he said.

The minister questioned how authorities could effectively monitor foreign nationals and manage their affairs without reliable information about their presence in the country.

“When you do not have the data of those foreigners residing in your country, then how do you manage their affairs? How do you monitor them? How do you monitor someone that you don’t even know exists?” he asked.

He said the government was addressing the weaknesses through data harmonisation and technology-driven reforms intended to improve coordination among agencies responsible for migration management, identity verification and national security.

Tunji-Ojo also cited the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States as a warning about the security consequences of intelligence failing to reach relevant authorities because of gaps in information sharing.

He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was working to address such vulnerabilities before they contributed to major security failures, stressing the importance of connecting agencies that generate and process critical information.

The initiative comes as the Nigeria Immigration Service has consolidated more than 15 million migration records into its Border Control and Immigration Management System (BCIMS), integrating information previously held across separate platforms to improve identity verification, border checks and the assessment of potential security risks.

The integration of BCIMS with the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) is intended to provide authorised officers with a more coordinated picture of travellers’ identities, movements and potential risks, enabling more informed operational decisions.

The reforms are expected to strengthen efforts to identify suspicious migration patterns and address identity fraud, migrant smuggling, trafficking in persons and other transnational crimes that exploit weaknesses in information sharing among government institutions and border commands.

.Tunji-Ojo also warned technology vendors against withholding technical knowledge from government personnel, declaring that the ministry would prioritise knowledge transfer to reduce dependence on external contractors.

He said the government wanted Nigerian personnel to acquire the expertise required to operate and maintain critical systems instead of leaving public institutions vulnerable when vendors were unavailable or unwilling to provide support.

“The era when any vendor will hold the service of government to ransom is gone,” he said.

“If you cannot transfer knowledge, then you have no business in government business.”

The minister said the initiative was intended to build an immigration service capable of developing local expertise and eventually assisting other countries with border management and migration technology.

He pledged continued investment in training, arguing that improved performance could not reasonably be demanded from officers who had not received the necessary technical preparation.

Tunji-Ojo maintained that the government’s technology investments were part of a broader effort to modernise public institutions, strengthen internal security and establish systems capable of delivering results beyond the tenure of individual officeholders.

He urged immigration officers to translate their training into measurable improvements at their duty posts, while Nandap stressed that the credibility of the reforms would ultimately depend on how responsibly the technology was used.

The central challenge, she said, was to strengthen Nigeria’s security, facilitate legitimate movement and ensure that border control decisions were supported by reliable information, professional judgement and respect for travellers’ rights.

With more than 15 million migration records consolidated into a centralised platform, the government is seeking to transform border management from fragmented, largely reactive operations into a coordinated, intelligence-supported system.

The long-term success of the initiative will depend on the accuracy of the records, the reliability of the technology, the competence of trained officers and the effectiveness of safeguards against misuse of sensitive information.

Speaking on the significance of the system, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said officers’ activities on the platform could be reviewed through digital records, making them more accountable for their actions and decisions.

She warned that access to the system must not be abused, stressing that officers had a responsibility to protect sensitive information and comply with established procedures.

“Your access to this system is a position of trust, not a personal privilege,” she said.

Nandap cautioned officers against sharing login credentials, accessing records without authorisation or manipulating the platform to grant favours, settle personal disputes or facilitate improper passage, warning that such conduct could attract investigation and sanctions.

“Fragmented records, isolated decisions and outdated methods cannot meet these demands,” she said, adding that effective migration management required connected information, competent personnel and accountable leadership.

The service is also deploying secure mobile devices to extend verification beyond fixed immigration terminals, allowing officers to conduct checks in the field while maintaining confidentiality and information security standards.

Nandap cautioned that mobility must not weaken security procedures, insisting that officers must apply the same safeguards to handheld devices as they do to office-based systems.

She said artificial intelligence-assisted tools would help identify patterns requiring further examination but must not be allowed to make final decisions independently.

“No technology is infallible. Poor data produces poor analysis. Unchecked alerts cause harm,” she said.

The Comptroller-General identified accuracy, integrity, judgement, readiness and accountability as five non-negotiable standards for the 87 officers who completed the specialised training.

Under these standards, officers are expected to ensure that entries into the system are accurate, correct errors only through approved procedures, protect their access credentials, maintain assigned equipment and escalate suspicious cases through established channels.

She also charged supervisors to ensure that trained officers were properly deployed, equipment remained operational and operational reports were submitted as required.

Nandap said the success of the programme would be measured by its impact on actual border operations rather than the number of officers trained or devices distributed.

She identified improved record accuracy, consistent border checks, prompt escalation of alerts, reliable system availability and the lawful treatment of travellers as key indicators for assessing the reforms.