The Federal Government has declared that it now has the technological capacity to identify and apprehend foreigners who overstay their visas in Nigeria.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure in Abuja during the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Interior.

He said the development followed the establishment of an Integrated Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre by the Nigeria Immigration Service, enabling authorities to access entry records spanning the past 10 years and determine those who have violated visa conditions.

“With that, we can access, in the last 10 years, everybody who has entered, where you came from we have all your records. We know the exact people who have overstayed in our country, and we will go after them,” the minister said, stressing the need to protect Nigeria’s borders just as other countries enforce their immigration laws.

Tunji-Ojo also called for reforms across agencies under the ministry, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to ensure transparent and corruption-free service delivery.

On correctional services, he emphasised rehabilitation, noting that repeated returns to custody indicate systemic failure and that inmates must be reformed to reduce recidivism.

The renewed push comes amid broader government efforts to strengthen border management, enforce immigration regulations and enhance accountability within the interior sector.