FG Identifies 840,290 Visa Overstayers in Nigeria as New Tracking System Enables Crackdown — Tunji-Ojo

 The Federal Government has uncovered approximately 840,290 visa overstayers currently in Nigeria, according to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

The minister made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television, attributing the figure to the country’s upgraded immigration tracking system.cb2954

“As of today, through our upgraded system, we have about 840,290 visa overstayers in Nigeria. These are foreign nationals who have exceeded their permitted stay,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The revelation comes amid broader reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), including the establishment of an Integrated Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre. These facilities provide authorities with comprehensive data on travellers who entered the country over the past decade, including their origins and exact duration of stay.

During the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Ministry of Interior held in Abuja earlier this month, the minister had already signaled the government’s readiness to act. He emphasized that the new technology-driven system now allows officials to identify defaulters precisely and initiate enforcement while respecting legal procedures.

“We know the exact people who have overstayed in our country, and we will go after them, with due respect, because, outside of Nigeria, they go after the irregular immigrants and we think we have to protect the sanctity of our borders,” Tunji-Ojo stated.

The move is part of efforts to strengthen border management, enhance national security, and ensure reciprocity in global migration practices. The government has also been engaging international partners, including the United Kingdom, on orderly migration frameworks.

Analysts view the development as a significant step in modernizing Nigeria’s immigration infrastructure, shifting the NIS from a largely administrative role to a more robust internal security and border protection agency supported by artificial intelligence and real-time data capabilities.

No immediate timeline for mass enforcement actions was provided in the latest disclosure, but the minister’s comments indicate that the government now possesses the tools to monitor and address visa violations systematically.