Nigeria integrates 15 million migration records to bolster border security

Nigeria has integrated over 15 million expatriate records into the Border Control and Immigration Management System (BCIMS) to enhance national security and migration monitoring. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that the number of recorded foreigners has risen from approximately 40,000 at the start of the current administration to 15 million, addressing previous gaps caused by fragmented databases and analogue processes.

As part of these reforms, the government has established a data centre with a capacity exceeding eight petabytes, supported by a solar-powered facility to ensure off-grid operational capability. The initiative, which includes the Centralised Interior Management and Administration System (CMAS), aims to improve intelligence sharing and equip officers to detect identity fraud, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling.

Minister Tunji-Ojo emphasized that managing a population of over 200 million requires digital integration rather than disconnected systems. The reforms are intended to modernize the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and position the country as a regional expert in border management technology.