The Federal Government has announced that it now has the capability to identify and apprehend foreigners who overstay their visas in Nigeria.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Interior. He explained that the government now maintains comprehensive data enabling authorities to track individuals who have entered the country over the past decade and identify those who violated visa regulations.
The minister noted that this capability follows the establishment of an Integrated Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre by the Nigeria Immigration Service. He added that the government will actively pursue overstaying foreigners, stressing that just as other countries enforce immigration rules, Nigeria must protect the integrity of its borders.
“In NIS, we have already achieved significant progress. With the new Operations Centres, we can access detailed records of everyone who entered the country in the last 10 years. We know who has overstayed, and we will act accordingly,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
The minister also highlighted the need for reforms across all agencies under his ministry, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to ensure transparent, corruption-free service delivery. He emphasised that government institutions must protect citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, without bias.
“Protection should be accessible to all Nigerians equally, regardless of status or influence. A genuine threat to life or property should be addressed without requiring intervention from senior officials. That is when we can claim to have a service that truly works for Nigerians,” he said.
On correctional reforms, Tunji-Ojo argued that repeated returns to custody indicate a failure of rehabilitation. “Every individual in the correctional system must be reformed and transformed. Our goal is to minimise repeat offences as much as possible,” he added.
Permanent Secretary Magdalene Ajani stressed the importance of accountability in leadership, describing it as “devotion, promises, performance, and impact.” She noted that the ministry’s agencies directly influence the daily lives of Nigerians, making transparency and effective service delivery essential.
The announcement coincides with renewed government efforts to strengthen border management and enforce immigration laws, enabling authorities to monitor travellers and identify those who remain in Nigeria beyond the permitted visa duration.
