FG to Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Irregular Migrants with AI Tracking System

The Federal Government has announced a nationwide crackdown on irregular migrants, supported by a new artificial intelligence–driven tracking system capable of monitoring travellers who have entered Nigeria over the past decade.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the ministry. He said the government now has the data required to identify and track individuals who have overstayed their visas.

According to him, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has established an Integrated Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre, which provide access to records of all travellers who have entered the country in the last ten years.

“In NIS, we are already doing a lot. Today, we have successfully built our Integrated Operations Centre and the Network Operations Centre, which never existed before. With these systems, we can access data on everyone who has entered the country over the last 10 years—where they came from and their records. We know exactly those who have overstayed, and we will go after them respectfully because other countries do the same to irregular migrants. We must protect the sanctity of our borders,” the minister said.

Tunji-Ojo added that the Nigeria Immigration Service is being repositioned to function as an “internal security enabler and a protector and guardian of our border space.”

Addressing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the minister stressed that specialised security services must be accessible to all citizens and free from influence or corruption.

He stated that the corps’ VIP protection system should be transparent and fair, allowing even those without connections to receive protection when necessary.

The minister also urged the NSCDC to take a leading role in combating economic sabotage, emphasising that citizens facing genuine threats should be able to access protection without needing personal connections to top officials.

Turning to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Tunji-Ojo said the progress made in capturing citizens’ data must be expanded further to support national security efforts.

“A lot of people have been captured and progress has been made, but until every Nigerian is captured, we cannot say we have succeeded,” he said.

Despite the approaching political season, the minister assured Nigerians that the ministry would remain focused on its core mandate.

He warned agency heads that there would be consequences for failing to meet performance targets, stressing that the government has entered an “era of business unusual.”

The retreat also highlighted the need for major reforms in the correctional system to reduce repeat offences.

Tunji-Ojo noted that a correctional system where individuals repeatedly return to custody indicates a failure of rehabilitation, stressing that inmates should leave correctional facilities reformed and transformed.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, also called for greater accountability within the agencies, describing leadership as a combination of dedication, promises, performance, and measurable impact.

She emphasised that the ministry’s agencies play a direct role in the daily lives of Nigerians, making transparency and effective service delivery essential for national stability.