THE Federal Government has announced a comprehensive nationwide effort to address irregular migration, supported by a new AI-driven tracking system that monitors all travelers entering the country over the past decade.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made this known at the ongoing  2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the ministry themed ‘Accountable Leadership , Measurable Impact, Reviewing Commitment’,  on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister said  “We now possess the data to identify and locate those who have overstayed their visas. With our Integrated Operations Centre and Network Operations Centre, we can access information on everyone who has entered the country in the last 10 years.
“We know the exact people who have overstayed in our country, and we will go after them, with due respect.”

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding Nigeria’s borders, noting that  “Outside of Nigeria, they go after the irregular immigrants, and we think we have to protect the sanctity of our borders.”

Tunji-Ojo described the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), as transitioning into “an internal security enabler and a protector and guardian of our border space.”
In addressing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on the newly introduced VIP security service, the minister called for the democratization of specialized security services, emphasizing that VIP protection should be corruption-free allowing any citizen facing threats to receive protection without needing personal connections.

He insisted that  “Protection should be available to any citizen facing a genuine threat without knowing the Commandant General or anybody”.

The minister also raised concerns about the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), stating that while progress has been made in data collection, partial success is not enough for national security.

He urged the commission’s leadership to ensure comprehensive data capture of all Nigerians saying, “Not until every Nigerian has been captured can we say we have succeeded”.

Reiterating his zeal to seeing through set targets, Tunji-Ojo assured that despite the forthcoming political season, the ministry will remain focused on its security objectives.
“The 2027 polls won’t distract us from our mandate,” he declared warning agency heads that the era of complacency is over
“There will be repercussions and consequences for non-delivery of targets in this ‘era of business unusual,” he said.

The retreat also noted the need for significant reforms in the correctional sector to reduce recidivism.

Tunji-Ojo decried lapses in the l reformation system.

He said “Anybody who goes in there must be reformed and transformed,” because with the goal is achieving a recidivism rate close to zero.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry Dr. Magdalene Ajani highlighted the importance of accountability in the ministry .

She explained that “Leadership is about devotion, promises, performance, and impact,” stressing that the ministry’s work directly affects the lives of Nigerians, making institutional transparency essential for national stability.