Beyond the tenure renewal at NIS

IN case anyone doubts the gains of digitisation, the revelation by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, that Nigeria has saved over ₦1 billion annually from reforms to its passport-processing operations while broader digitisation of immigration services has improved efficiency, reduced paperwork, and increased transparency, should cause such a person to reconsider their stand. However, the ₦1 billion figure is a reported saving from a specific passport-processing reform, not a verified estimate of total savings across all immigration operations. According to reports published in July 2025, the Minister disclosed the following: the automated uploading of supporting documents, including birth and marriage certificates, eliminated a process that reportedly cost the government ₦1 billion annually. It is no longer news that in recognition of her sterling credentials and the landmark achievements recorded by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), President Bola Tinubu, on the Minister’s recommendation, extended the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs Kemi Nandap, and her counterpart at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, by 18 months. A key objective was to avoid a succession gap and allow the board enough time to appoint successors, but it is significant that the President commended her for the various reforms. A close examination of operations at the NIS would show that Nandap has indeed brought a renewed focus on visionary leadership.

It is a no-brainer that visionary immigration leadership guarantees improved operational efficiency through digitisation, automation, and streamlined processes; significant cost savings through reduced paperwork, manual processing, and administrative overheads; and increased government revenue through transparent payment systems and reduced leakages. Besides, it also contributes to enhanced national security through stronger border management, reliable identity verification, and intelligence-led migration control; faster passport and visa processing, improving service delivery and public satisfaction; and reduced corruption and human interference through automated, transparent, and accountable procedures. That is not all. The improved ease of doing business by facilitating international travel, trade, tourism, and investment; strengthened investor confidence through efficient visa administration and predictable immigration procedures; improved data management through integrated digital databases and real-time information sharing; and enhanced detection and prevention of identity fraud, document forgery, human trafficking, and irregular migration are all part of the strengths of this approach, as are increased institutional accountability through measurable performance targets and data-driven decision-making; improved staff productivity by reducing repetitive administrative tasks and redirecting personnel towards higher-value responsibilities; enhanced international cooperation through alignment with global immigration standards and best practices; and a marked improvement in the country’s global image through modern, efficient, and professional immigration services.

Born on June 3, 1966 in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Ogun State-born NIS CG is widely credited with establishing a sustainable foundation for modern immigration governance through strategic planning, institutional reforms, and visionary leadership. Her appointment and reappointment were the result of over 35 years of dedicated and meritorious service. Since assuming office in March 2024, Nandap has focused her leadership on three pillars: technology, security, and service delivery, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the reform drive of the Minister of Interior. Her first major task was to clear the inherited backlog of over 200,000 passports, a mandate she fulfilled within weeks. She introduced the full automation of passport applications, a contactless passport application system, and online tracking. According to analysts, this has reduced human contact and eliminated extortion. She also automated visa issuance, introduced e-visa, and expanded the visa-on-arrival policy to attract investors and tourists. In July 2026, Nigeria’s electronic passport authentication system was integrated into the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Public Key Directory (ICAO PKD), making Nigerian passports easily verifiable worldwide.

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But it is in the area of border security and modernisation (e-border solution) that her leadership has been most marked. Nandap launched the e-Border Solution Project, which includes a modern Command and Control Centre that monitors all of Nigeria’s borders in real-time, deployed the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, which allow airlines to send passenger data before landing for security screening, and installed automated e-Gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and other airports. This was complemented with the deployment of drones and AI-driven surveillance systems to monitor porous land borders. She is also credited with integrating over 15 million migration records from different databases into one system called the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), ensuring that officers can detect suspicious migration patterns and fake identities. The Service is, by the way, deploying secure mobile devices to extend verification beyond fixed terminals.

In September 2024, Nandap became the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Heads of Immigration Forum. In this role, she champions the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) for seamless travel within West Africa while maintaining security. She strengthened partnerships with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), INTERPOL, the European Union, and other agencies to fight human trafficking and migrant smuggling. In October 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service, working with the NIS, partnered with Benin, Cameroon and Afreximbank to modernise borders under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to ease cargo movement. This is no surprise because regional and international collaboration is at the heart of her leadership philosophy.

Without doubt, reforms pursued without due attention to staff welfare and anti-corruption are bound to fail. Here is where Nandap’s introduction of specialised training for officers on the Border Control and Immigration Management System, document fraud detection, and intelligence gathering, and her emphasis on accountability, has been pivotal. She is on record as telling officers: “Your access to this system is a position of trust, not a personal privilege. Every action you take can be reviewed.” She improved health insurance and pension processes and introduced a 24-hour call centre and active social media channels for Nigerians to report delays and corruption, with the message “Delays, bribes in passport processing are over.”

To be sure, Nandap comes to the job fully equipped. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, a Master of Science degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Jos, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Abuja. She was trained at the Immigration Training School, Kano and the Immigration Command and Staff College. She is also a member of several professional bodies, including PCC, MMIS, and FSMN. Nandap joined the Nigeria Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration and, over the years, rose through the ranks and served in many commands and formations across Nigeria. She served in Ogun, Anambra, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory.

But beyond the renewal of her tenure, the broader issue remains Nigeria’s internal security. There is no doubt that the NIS, particularly in recent times, has been keen to pursue its statutory mandate, but it can obviously do better. Nigerians abroad have been expressing delight at the agency’s elimination of its accustomed lethargy, but constant interface with the public, close monitoring of operations at airports, sustained engagements with Nigeria’s West African neighbours, sustained rollout of innovative mechanisms to deliver operational efficiency, and synergy with sister agencies remain pivotal. Happily, concrete steps continue to be taken in this regard. The implication is that Nigerians can expect greater delivery of the NIS mandate under her watch.

•Adeniyi is a public affairs analyst