Nigeria Deports 828 Illegal Immigrants

The Nigerian government has deported 828 illegal immigrants as part of efforts to tighten border security. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the move on Tuesday in Abuja.

The deportations are aimed at curbing human trafficking, streamlining immigration processes, and strengthening national security. Authorities also rescued 137 victims of human trafficking in the past year.

Tunji-Ojo explained that securing borders is not just about enforcement but also about protecting lives. He assured that only individuals with legitimate reasons will be allowed entry into Nigeria.

In addition to deportations, the minister claimed the government is modernizing Nigeria’s immigration system. New technologies are being deployed to improve surveillance, border monitoring, and overall efficiency.

Key reforms include a Centralised Visa Approval Centre in Abuja, faster passport processing, and integrating Nigerian passports into the ICAO Public Key Directory for global verification.

The government has also established an 8.3-petabyte data centre to enhance border security. A new Command and Control Centre will monitor all land and air entry points in real time.

To address passport delays, the Nigerian Immigration Service cleared a backlog of 200,000 applications in 2023. Over 1.8 million passports were issued in 2024.

Tunji-Ojo assured Nigerians that these reforms would eliminate passport delays and improve travel experiences. The government remains committed to strengthening national security and efficient immigration management.