The electronic gates (e-gates) mounted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja was on Friday, April 19, test-run by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who was accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Aishetu Ndayako and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap among other top government officials, stated that the job is now 99 percent complete and the e-gates would be deployed for operations by next week.
It is expected that the e-gates which will also be deployed in Lagos, Enugu, Kano and Port-Harcourt, will eliminate human interfaces, reduce bureaucracy and make movements of passengers in and out the country seamless.
He said;
“With this massive infrastructure, we believe that no unwanted persons or persons of interests can find their ways into Nigeria. Our security through the Airports and in the Airport domains are guaranteed.
“It is a testimony to what Mr President told us from day one on his Renewed Hope Agenda. He asked us to change the narratives and make passengers movements in and out of the country seamless.
“You can see that we have all our team here working in synergy with the authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.
“I must at this point commend the Minister of Aviation, Hon Festus Keyamo (SAN) and other critical stakeholders who have made this transformation possible.”