The federal government revealed on Wednesday that several foreign nationals on Interpol’s watchlist have been arrested across the country and handed over to Interpol authorities.
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The arrests were made possible by Nigeria’s integration of its Advanced Passenger Information System with Interpol’s solutions.
Details of the individuals arrested, including the specific charges or identities of those on Interpol’s red flags, were not disclosed.
The announcement was made during a joint briefing in Abuja by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo.
According to the Ministers, the arrests were the result of ongoing collaboration between their Ministries and key agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The effort aims to facilitate smooth passenger movements while ensuring national security.
Additionally, the Ministers highlighted the launch of e-Visa solutions, designed to eliminate travel bottlenecks while maintaining security protocols.
Keyamo said: “What we are doing here today is a further testament to the determination of this government to foster cooperation between key ministries that have mandates that overlap.
“Today is another example of that kind of cooperation and collaboration, and this has to do with the introduction of the e-visa.”
Giving more details on the initiative, Tunji-Ojo said: “This initiative has a very serious effect on our national security architecture. Prior to now, we’ve always had the exit and landing card in a manual way, and travelers had to fill a paper form. But now the narrative has changed with the introduction of e-visa and automated exit and entry cards.
“Nigeria is a country of 230 million brilliant people, and we have to lead in terms of technology. In view of that, we are automating the visa process, and it takes effect from the 1st of May, 2025.
“So the landing and exit cards will be filled online before you board and presented to airlines before you can be boarded. The responsibility of coordinating and issuing regulations to the airline lies with the NCAA. This shows our commitment to the protection of our country, border security, and ensuring that our sovereignty as a nation is well respected.
“Outside of that, we will also be introducing some other measures to explain more explicitly. The e-Visa will make it easier for people to come into Nigeria while enhancing the security of our country.”
He continued: “The applications will be online. There is a centralized visa approval center already at the immigration headquarters. Officers have been trained, well-equipped, and the solution integrated with all criminal record systems in the world, including the major ones as well as Interpol. And of course, there will be better background checks for people coming into Nigeria.
“We are also looking at removing bottlenecks and ensuring that people can get visas to Nigeria without lobbying anyone. We want to open our borders without compromising national security for people to come and explore the beauty of the land called Nigeria.
“So, we have decided today that we will work together to ensure that there is only one interest that will be protected, and that is the Nigerian interest. The NCAA and the NIS have agreed that both agencies will set up a mini-team to work together in terms of the implementation framework, regulations, and protocols.
“The landing and exit cards are free. Nobody is paying for that. It’s just for the purpose of our security and record management solution. So the two agencies will work together, come up with a protocol, because this is not a responsibility that one agency can do alone.”
On the amnesty period for people who may have visa issues, he said: “The program starts on the 1st of May, 2025, and we decided that there will be a three-month amnesty period before full enforcement. Implementation starts on the 1st of May, but there will be amnesty so that all foreigners who have overstayed or are in breach of immigration laws can come out for regularization and present themselves at the immigration offices to be able to regularize.”
On the arrest of those on the Interpol watchlist, the Interior Minister said: “In the last couple of weeks, many people on Interpol’s red list have been arrested in Nigeria at the point of entry via the Advanced Passenger Information System solution.
“These people, before the advent of this administration, would have found their way into Nigeria, but because we decided to work together in the interest of the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President, today, those individuals have been arrested and handed over to Interpol. This is what we can achieve as a people when we collaborate and decide to work in the interest of Nigeria.”
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