Nigeria Deports 828 Illegal Immigrants in 2024 Amidst Immigration Reforms

By DAYO ADESULU

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the deportation of 828 illegal immigrants in 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to curb irregular migration and enhance national security.

Government’s Commitment to Immigration Control

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, highlighting the administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border control and improve immigration processes.

“In the last year, 137 victims of human trafficking were intercepted, and in 2024 alone, 828 foreigners were repatriated by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS),” the minister revealed.

Modernizing Immigration Systems

In line with its broader reforms, the government has implemented significant measures to modernize border operations and streamline immigration services. These include:

• Integration of Nigerian passports into the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Public Key Directory for seamless global verification.
• Establishment of a centralized Visa Approval Centre in Abuja to accelerate visa processing.
• Construction of an 8.3-petabyte data centre, the largest in Nigeria, to enhance immigration data management.
• Deployment of solar-powered infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted border control operations.

Enhanced Border Surveillance and Passport Issuance

To further bolster national security, a Command and Control Centre has been established, providing real-time monitoring of all land and air entry points. This initiative aims to boost surveillance and detect unauthorized border crossings.

Additionally, the NIS successfully cleared a backlog of 200,000 passport applications within three weeks in 2023 and issued 1,836,533 passports in 2024, significantly improving passport accessibility for Nigerian citizens.

A Step Towards Strengthened Migration Policies

The Nigerian government’s decisive actions reflect its commitment to regulating migration, preventing human trafficking, and enhancing national security. As these reforms take effect, authorities anticipate a more efficient and secure immigration system for the country.