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By Femi Salako For years, Nigeria’s immigration system was marred by inefficiencies, bureaucratic bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities. But in the past year, a remarkable transformation has taken place—one that signals a new dawn for border governance, migration management, and passport administration. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and with the firm leadership of Hon.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has undergone a revolutionary shift that is earning widespread commendation. From digitizing border surveillance to eliminating passport backlogs and strengthening migration policies, the agency—led by the Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap—is proving that efficiency, innovation, and security can go hand in hand. One of the most notable achievements of the NIS is its aggressive deployment of technology to strengthen border security.
Through a series of border assessment tours, the agency has enhanced its commitment to inter-agency collaboration and community engagement—a move that is crucial for tackling cross-border crime. Additionally, the introduction of e-Border Solutions has bolstered national security, allowing for real-time surveillance and intelligence gathering at Nigeria’s borders. The establishment of a Command-and-Control Centre, alongside the deployment of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and Passenger Name Record (PNR), has significantly improved the monitoring of travelers entering and exiting the country.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking reform is the installation of e-Gates at international airports—a bold step towards contactless, efficient, and fraud-proof passenger clearance. These innovations reflect Nigeria’s commitment to global best practices in immigration management. Passengers injured as ferry bursts into flames in Lagos Made-in-Benue exhibition to unmask local entrepreneurs – Alia The commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) further solidifies these reforms.
Housing facilities such as the NIS Data Centre, ECOWAS Biometric Card Production Center, and Visa Application Center, BATTIC is now the technological nerve center of the NIS, ensuring data-driven decision-making and seamless service delivery. Migration remains one of the most complex global challenges, and Nigeria is not exempt. However, the NIS has redesigned its approach, ensuring that policies reflect both national security interests and humanitarian considerations.
A major highlight is the review of Nigeria’s visa policy, making the process more streamlined and investor-friendly. Additionally, the agency has intensified its nationwide awareness campaigns to educate citizens—particularly youths—on the dangers of irregular migration, human trafficking, and smuggling of migrants (SoM). Through strategic partnerships with international organisations like ECOWAS, IOM, UNODC, and FRONTEX, the NIS is ensuring that migration policies align with global human rights standards.
The establishment of a National Database for Smuggling of Migrants (SoM) and Trafficking in Persons (TIP), in collaboration with NAPTIP and the Nigerian Police, is a game-changer. It allows for centralised intelligence sharing, faster response times, and more effective prosecution of offenders. Few aspects of immigration reform affect Nigerians more personally than passport processing.
For decades, passport issuance was plagued by delays, corrupt intermediaries, and bureaucratic hurdles. But in an unprecedented feat, the NIS has cleared over 200,000 backlog applications—a move that has earned it praise from citizens both at home and abroad. The agency has also expanded passport front offices and rolled out the enhanced e-Passport across several embassies worldwide, including Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
One of the most revolutionary changes is the decentralisation of Change of Data (CoD) applications, which are now processed across all passport offices nationwide. This eliminates the need for citizens to travel long distances to Abuja for simple modifications. The Electronic Passport Management System (EPMS) has also brought transparency and efficiency to the application process by minimizing third-party interference and reducing opportunities for corruption.
Additionally, the contactless passport application system has been introduced in selected countries, setting a new standard for convenience. With the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) PKD/PKI certification, Nigeria is aligning its passport system with global security benchmarks, making its passports more respected and accepted worldwide. Behind every successful policy is a workforce that is empowered, motivated, and well-trained.
Recognizing this, the NIS has prioritized the capacity building of its personnel through specialised training programs. Officers have received advanced training in document fraud detection, migration data analysis, and e-Border management. A particularly notable initiative is the Chinese Communication Skills training, which equips officers to better interact with Chinese-speaking migrants and investors, given Nigeria’s deepening economic ties with China.
Moreover, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has spearheaded a historic welfare reform: the payment of outstanding allowances, including repatriation and death benefits for officers who had previously been neglected. In a record-breaking promotion exercise, 14,000 officers were elevated, boosting morale and reinforcing the commitment to service excellence. The ministry has also initiated discussions with the Federal Housing Authority to provide affordable housing for officers, ensuring that those who protect Nigeria’s borders have decent living conditions.
These achievements have not gone unnoticed. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has on various occasions commended Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Comptroller General Kemi Nandap for their unwavering commitment to service excellence and their pivotal roles in the transformation of the NIS. Their efforts align perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reposition Nigeria as a global leader in efficient governance and citizen-focused service delivery.
As the nation continues on this path of progressive immigration reforms, it is crucial for Nigerians to support the continuity of Kemi Nandap’s leadership in the NIS. Her ability to work seamlessly with the Ministry of Interior has been instrumental in driving sustainable reforms that enhance national security, ease travel experiences, and promote economic opportunities. Her expertise, dedication, and results-oriented approach make her an indispensable figure in Nigeria’s immigration landscape.
Under the leadership of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Comptroller General Kemi Nandap, the Nigeria Immigration Service is no longer the inefficient, outdated agency it once was. Instead, it stands as a model of efficiency, innovation, and service excellence.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan—it is an action plan that is yielding visible results. Nigerians can now access passports faster, travelers experience smoother border processes, and the country’s security architecture is becoming more intelligence-driven and technologically advanced. As these reforms continue, the NIS is proving that with visionary leadership, political will, and strategic partnerships, Nigeria can build an immigration system that is modern, responsive, and globally respected.
The message is clear: Nigeria’s borders are more secure, migration policies are more humane, and passport services are more efficient. The future of immigration in Nigeria is bright. Salako is the CEO Triangle International Media Unlock AI's potential! Get top prompts for content, blogs, social media, research, draft proposals and more.
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