FG Deploys AI‑Driven Migration Tracking System to Crack Down on Irregular Migrants

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo, has launched a comprehensive nationwide effort to curb irregular migration and visa overstays by deploying a sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI)‑driven tracking system that monitors all travellers who entered the country over the past ten years. The announcement was made on 5 March 2026 at the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Ministry of Interior in Abuja, where officials outlined broader security and border management reforms.

Tunji‑Ojo said the newly established Integrated Operations Centre and Network Operations Centre within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) now gives authorities access to comprehensive historical entry data, enabling them to identify and locate individuals who have overstayed their visas and enforce immigration laws with due respect to due process. He emphasised that Nigeria must protect the sanctity of its borders in the same way other countries enforce immigration compliance.

The initiative reflects a strategic shift toward technology‑enabled immigration enforcement, aligning Nigeria with international practice in migration control and border security. The NIS is being repositioned as an “internal security enabler and guardian of our border space” as part of ongoing institutional reforms.

Tunji‑Ojo also directed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure specialised security services (including VIP protection) are delivered equitably and corruption‑free, stressing that all citizens facing genuine threats should have access to protection without influence.

Observers say the digital migration tracking system could significantly improve enforcement of visa regulations, deter irregular migration, and strengthen national security, while raising questions about the balance between enforcement and the protection of migrants’ rights under Nigerian and international law.