Nigeria Launches Immigration Technology Research Hub

President Bola Tinubu has officially commissioned the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Technology Innovation Complex, also known as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC), at the NIS headquarters in Abuja. The development marks a significant advancement in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, building upon the country’s recent initiatives in digital passport systems and border control modernization.

The newly unveiled Data Complex includes multiple specialized facilities. A Command and Control Centre for Regular Migration will manage migration patterns, while the NIS Data Centre will handle immigration-related data management. The complex also houses an ECOWAS Biometric Card Production Centre for regional integration, supporting the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card initiative aimed at facilitating free movement within West Africa. The facility also includes an Interior Data Centre for agency data integration, and a 0.5KW Solar Power Plant with 4.2 megawatt battery capacity.

The facility incorporates advanced technological capabilities for immigration management and security. These include risk level assessment systems, irregular migration detection, unmanned border monitoring, and Advanced Passenger Information (API) analysis. The complex features real-time video surveillance of border areas and an integrated communication platform connecting border units, control posts, state commands, and headquarters.

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo noted that the Immigration Data Centre project had remained incomplete for 18 years under previous administrations before reaching completion. “This project started 18 years ago and failed under past administrations,” Tunji-Ojo stated. “We can recall a visa regime that was not pre-profiling passengers; with the new facility Nigeria visa regime now passes through automated processes.” This advancement follows the minister’s earlier efforts to modernize Nigeria’s immigration systems, including the introduction of remote passport renewal capabilities.

The complex has received certification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and integration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ensuring compliance with international standards for border control and passenger processing.

During the commissioning, President Tinubu emphasized technology’s role in national development, stating, “We at this stage with over 200 million people and a leader in Africa must embrace technology changes, innovation, and knowledge-based opportunities to drive a process that is greater for the generality and a vast number of people.”

The facility includes a Visa Approval Centre that will serve as a centralized location for visa applications. According to President Tinubu, “Our Visa Approval Centre will provide a one-stop shop for visa applications. With this innovation, Nigeria and other countries can travel with ease, do business with ease, and live honestly among each other.” This centralization represents a significant shift from the previously fragmented visa application process, bringing it in line with global best practices in immigration management.

Sources: Punch, TV360 Nigeria, Gazette, Voice of Nigeria, Punch

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December 10, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith