The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday said all 21 electronic gates (e-gates) at Lagos airports would be 100 per cent ready for use in three weeks.

Mr Tunji-Ojo made this known when he inspected the level of work done at the E-wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, a new terminal in Lagos.

He also expressed satisfaction with the level of work done.

“So, what we can see is that it is fully installed, and what is left is just the Universal Access transceiver (UAT) and then align the sensor,” said Mr Tunji Ojo.

He stated that the E wing would be fully ready by Monday, after which work on the D wing with eight gates would commence.

“We cannot shut and block the three airports at the same time or work simultaneously because of ease of movement.

“So we have to take it one terminal after the other. The assurance we have already is that by this weekend, the E wing would have been fully completed, and that would be left with only the D wing.

“The D wing might take us roughly another three weeks maximum because it is eight gates, like this one. What it means is that in the next three weeks from now, Lagos will be 100 per cent good to go,” he said.

Speaking on the timing of the e-gates in Nigeria, the minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had brought technology and innovation into play.

Mr Tunji-Ojo said the introduction of the e-gates was to enhance national security, easy connectivity to databases globally, and to help the public’s perception of government while enabling ease of doing business.

He also said the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was ready for inauguration, adding that after the completion of Lagos gates, Kano airport and others would begin.

(NAN)