The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has named its command and control centre after President Bola Tinubu.
The Controller General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, announced this at the inauguration of the Centre in Abuja on Tuesday by the President.
โIt is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today, as we mark a momentous occasion in the history of the Nigeria Immigration Service and, indeed, in the development of our great nation.
โToday, we gather to commission the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation ComplexโBATTICโhere at the NIS Headquarters,โ Mrs Nandap said.
โThis cutting-edge facility is a true testament to Nigeriaโs forward-thinking approach to digital transformation and national security.
โBATTIC is more than just a building; it is a leap forward, a bold step in modernizing our immigration infrastructure, and a powerful tool in our ongoing efforts to safeguard the nationโs borders, manage migration effectively, and enhance national securityโ, the CG added.
Mrs Nandap who commended the President for the reforms in the Service and his support for the projects, said the Centre has achieved certification with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and integrated with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
She also lauded the National Security Adviser to the President, the Ministers of Interior, Aviation, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN for their contributions to the success of the projects.
The Immigration boss said the project would ensure the integrity and accountability of individuals entering Nigeria.
Nandap said: โAdditionally, BATTIC is a multi-faceted complex comprising several critical components that will play a pivotal role in Nigeriaโs security and migration management.
โThese include the Command-and-Control Centre for Regular Migration, the NIS Data Centre and Visa Approval Centre, the Interior Data Centre,
The Passport Personalization Centre, the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) Centre, and the 0.5KW Solar Farm.
โEach of these components has been meticulously designed to meet international standards, ensuring that Nigeria not only catches up with global trends but becomes a leader in the management of migration data.
โWith BATTIC, we are setting a new benchmark in the use of technology to protect our borders and enhance national security.
โAt the heart of BATTICโs mission is its ability to manage and analyze varying levels of data efficiently, using state-of-the-art technology.
โAllow me to highlight some of the key functions and capabilities of this remarkable facility,
Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) Analysis.
โThis enables us to assess the risk levels of passengers even before they arrive in Nigeria or depart from their country of origin.
โIdentification of Suspicious Travel Patterns: By analyzing travel data, we can detect anomalies that may indicate potential security threats.
โThe complex will support real-time video surveillance to monitor unmanned border areas across the federation, ensuring a constant watch on border activities.
โIntegrated Communication Platform: BATTIC will facilitate seamless communication across all levelsโfrom Border Patrol Units to Border Control Posts, State Commands, the Service Headquarters, and the Ministry of Interior.
โCross-Referencing with National and International Watchlists: Data will be cross-checked against various national and global security databases, including INTERPOL, to ensure no security threats slip through the cracks.
โIn essence, BATTIC will serve as the central hub for our digital infrastructure, dramatically enhancing our surveillance capabilities, streamlining migration management, and strengthening our national security framework.โ (Nation)