The Federal Government has revealed that it now has the tools and data to identify and take action against foreigners who overstay their visas in Nigeria.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Interior.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the government has compiled comprehensive records of all individuals who have entered Nigeria over the past decade, enabling authorities to pinpoint those who have violated visa conditions. The development follows the creation of an Integrated Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
He said, “With that, we can access, in the last 10 years, everybody who has entered, where you came from, everything, we have all your records, we have everything, we know the exact people who have overstayed in our country, and we will go after them, with due respect, because, outside of Nigeria, they go after the irregular immigrants and we think we have to protect the sanctity of our borders.”
The minister also highlighted the need for reforms across all agencies under the ministry, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to ensure services are delivered transparently and without corruption.
“NSCDC provides protection in an organised and corruption-free manner, where the son of a nobody will have the same opportunity as the son of anybody in government. If you are a businessman or there is a genuine threat to your life, you should be able to access protection without going through the minister, the Commandant General, or anyone else,” he said.
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On correctional reforms, Tunji-Ojo added that repeated returns to custody indicate a failure of rehabilitation. “Anybody who goes in there must be reformed and transformed,” he stated, noting that the goal is to reduce repeat offences to the bare minimum.
Permanent Secretary Magdalene Ajani stressed the importance of accountability in leadership, saying, “Leadership is about devotion, promises, performance, and impact.” She added that agencies under the ministry play crucial roles affecting Nigerians’ daily lives and must therefore maintain transparency and efficiency.
Officials say the upgraded system will enhance border management, improve monitoring of travellers, and help enforce immigration regulations more effectively, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders.