Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced ambitious plans to establish a centralized system for authenticating and verifying all travel documents within Nigeria.
He revealed this initiative during a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday with David Hanson, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State.
Hanson’s delegation included representatives from the UK Home Office, National Crime Agency, and the British High Commission.
Tunji-Ojo asserted that this system directly targets the escalating issues of immigration and document fraud, particularly those impacting border control. “We discovered that one of the key drivers of rising document fraud is the absence of a centralised, real-time verification system,” he stated.
“Currently, if someone submits 20 documents, you may need to contact 20 different issuing agencies to verify them. That breeds inefficiency.”
He elaborated that the envisioned system will enable immediate, single-point verification of crucial documents such as bank statements, passports, and certificates.
Furthermore, the Minister declared Nigeria’s readiness to spearhead the development of a regional border control strategy, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to address diverse regional challenges. “To tackle a heterogeneous problem with a homogeneous approach will not work,” Tunji-Ojo explained.
“That’s why we’re planning a regional border conference to allow for the development of unified yet adaptable strategies to combat migration and border-related challenges.”
He also disclosed the imminent launch of Nigeria’s EU visa solution platform on May 1st. This platform, according to him, will streamline processing and enhance international cooperation while simultaneously safeguarding national security and fostering investment.
“We now have a policy that ensures a response—approval or rejection—within 24 to 48 hours of applying for an EU visa,” he affirmed.
Highlighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Tunji-Ojo stressed the administration’s proactive stance on corruption prevention. “Our performance will be judged not by the number of convictions or recoveries but by how many crimes or frauds we prevent,” he asserted.
In his response, Hanson affirmed the UK’s commitment to continued collaboration with Nigeria to achieve improved criminal justice outcomes.
Hanson noted the UK’s ongoing review of its e-visa system and migration policies, alongside exploring avenues to expand trade, business, and skills development opportunities with Nigeria. “My colleagues at the High Commission are eager to maintain strong engagement with the Nigerian government,” he stated.
He conveyed the UK’s eagerness to strengthen cooperation in the fight against crime and fraud. “You can rest assured that the National Crime Agency, the High Commission, and the Home Office are ready to extend a hand of partnership,” he assured.
