National News
Tinubu Insists Nigerians Are One

Tinubu Insists Nigerians Are One
By: Michael Mike
President Bola Tinubu has pleaded that Nigeria should not be allowed to disintegrate on the altar of political differences, calling for peace and unity in the country even as he insisted that Nigerians are one no matter whatever divide.
He made the appeal on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS in Abuja.
He described Nigerians as occupants of one building, but living in different rooms.
In his keynote address, President Tinubu said “the integration of security, whether air, land or sea embarked upon by the ministry is a fulfillment of a dream.
“From the beginning of our administration, you promised to deliver and execute innovative solutions across the government including the NIS”, he said.
He commended the Interior minister for his developmental strides saying what he has “achieved in passport alone has given this country great reputation internationally. I thank you. We must thank you”.
Tinubu said he is proud to see the NIS taking its pride of place as a frontline security agency in the country.
“Our visa approval centre will provide a one-stop shop for visa applications. What more? Nigerians and visitors can travel with ease, do business partnerships with ease and live honestly with each other. Like I always say, the world is getting smaller with ICT and the house is just a house for all of us. We hear political cracks here and there, we are one family, living in the same house but staying in different rooms. And it is in our hands to do justice to our children.
“The centre being commissioned today should provide a sustained communication architecture linking relevant agencies with a collaborative technology along a trusted information network. I am very proud of those who are involved and the leadership that you have demonstrated”, the president added.
Tinubu said a rejig of the Immigration Service and air travel will benefit Nigeria tremendously through ease of entry and ease of exit.
At the event, Interior minister, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the idea of the Technology Innovation Complex which houses the NIS Command and Control Centre was first mooted 18 years ago, but due to rivalry among some agencies and the lack of political will to see the idea to fruition, the complex could not be built.
Speaking on the several benefits derivable form the project, the Interior minister said the complex is not just about immigration, as all agencies in the ministry can now share information in real time, harmonize data and respond to issues efficiently.
He said: “The Command and Control Centre that we have is not just about the Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record API/PNR system. Even our border posts, over 200 points today, realtime entry and exit, over 5km in and out, we are watching the borders and getting information to be able to escalate to the armed forces when the need arises. Even our marine and air borders are covered.
“Let me say what we are commissioning today is a very massive complex. It is not just about immigration because when we came on board, we realized that we were spending money, different agencies, wasting billions every year, and we decided that we should create a centre point where all of us can feed from.
“We started with an idea of 1.4 petabyte but what we have today is 8.3 petabyte, one of the largest in the world, meaning that all the agencies in the Ministry of Interior can work together harmoniously and exchange data and at the end of the day be able to respond in record time to any emergency or security threat.
“Also, we decided that for people who, all they aspire to do, is to be able to go to some West African countries to do business, they might not be able to afford the little money for passport and so here we have an ECOWAS ID Card project. The travel document will be available for people even at the lower rungs of the ladder.
“Before Your Excellency came to office, we had a visa regime that was discretionary, but now we have an automated service. You apply online and it goes through several checks including watch lists and the visa is issued within 48 hours.
“Also, we have the Correctional Information Management System. It has already been deployed. We saw what happened during jailbreaks some years ago. It was difficult getting the identities and biometrics of the escapees but when we had the flood in Maiduguri, in less than three to four hours we had all information ready and shared with all security agencies and that led to the apprehension of so many of them”, said Dr Tunji-Ojo.
On his part, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo said he and his Interior counterpart on assumption of office resolved to tackle interagency rivalry and deliver a world-class project for the benefit of Nigerians.
Keyamo said the project is an example of interministerial cooperation between Interior and Aviation.
He said: “This initiative had been mooted many years ago in the past government but there was constant friction between both ministries as to who should be in charge.”
Keyamo added that the situation changed when he and the interior minister came on board and they decided that the project must be done for the benefit of the country.
He noted that of the 54 countries in Africa, Nigeria is one out of seven to have the system in place, according to the International Air Transport Association IATA.
Speaking on the project, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Nandap said the complex is more than just a building, but a bold step in modernizing immigration infrastructure, and a powerful tool in NIS’ ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation’s borders, manage migration effectively, and enhance national security.
She said the facility has achieved certification with the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO and integrated with the International Air Transport Association IATA, further ensuring the integrity and accountability of individuals entering our country.
She said: “Additionally, BATTIC is a multi-faceted complex comprising several critical components that will play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s security and migration management. These 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.
“Each 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.
“At the heart of BATTIC’s mission is its ability to manage and analyze varying levels of data efficiently, using state-of-the-art technology. Allow me to highlight some of the key functions and capabilities of this remarkable facility:
“Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) Analysis: This enables us to assess the risk levels of passengers even before they arrive in Nigeria or depart from their country of origin.
“Identification of Suspicious Travel Patterns: By analyzing travel data, we can detect anomalies that may indicate potential security threats.
“24/7 Surveillance: The complex will support real-time video surveillance to monitor unmanned border areas across the federation, ensuring a constant watch on border activities.
She disclosed that BATTIC will facilitate seamless communication across all levels—from Border Patrol Units to Border Control Posts, State Commands, the Service Headquarters, and the Ministry of Interior.
She said: “Cross-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.
“In 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.
Operationalizing the Solutions in this facility will enhance migration management in Nigeria. With its advanced analytics, BATTIC will allow us to better monitor migration patterns, control border points, and prevent illegal crossings”, the CGIS added.
Tinubu Insists Nigerians Are One
National News
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
National News
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue

Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
National News
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary

FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
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