The federal government has charged officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to deliver exceptional and transparent services to Nigerians and foreign nationals, describing quality customer service as a right, not a privilege.
Kemi Nandap, Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), gave the charge in Abuja while declaring open the 2025 SERVICOM Customer Service Week, themed “Mission Possible” with the NIS sub-theme “Meeting and Exceeding Expectations.”
Nandap said the Service was on an “irreversible path of reform, modernization and transparency,” in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that every officer must embody professionalism, integrity and courtesy in their daily operations.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service must not only meet expectations but exceed them. Every passport issued, every permit processed, every encounter at our borders is a test of our professionalism and integrity.
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“We must continue to build public trust and prove that we are a Service that delivers”, she said.
The CGI noted that since her assumption of office in 2024, she had introduced a series of reforms to rebuild public confidence and eliminate corrupt practices that previously tainted the Service’s image.
Among these reforms, Nandap highlighted the automation of passport applications, the introduction of contactless processing systems, and the deployment of e-gates and body cameras across international airports, initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency and security while minimizing human interference.
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She added that the Service had also intensified anti-corruption sensitization campaigns across formations to entrench professionalism and accountability among personnel.
“These reforms are already yielding results,” she said, citing improved national ratings, commendations, and awards received by the NIS during recent government performance review sessions.
Nandap urged officers across the country to use the Customer Service Week as an opportunity to recommit themselves to efficiency and citizens-centred service delivery.
“This celebration is not for fanfare. It is a solemn call to renew our pledge of service and institutionalize transparency, courtesy, and excellence as our standard culture”, she cautioned.
The CGI commended President Tinubu and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, for their unwavering support toward ongoing NIS reforms, saying their leadership has significantly strengthened professionalism and curbed corruption within the Service.
Earlier, Muhammad Abubakar, special assistant to the CGI on SERVICOM and Reform Champion, described the Customer Service Week as “a call to reflection, action, and renewal.”
Abubakar, who is also a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, said the global theme “Mission Possible” challenges government institutions to turn obstacles into opportunities for innovation rather than excuses for inefficiency.
“Customer service is not a privilege given by government institutions but a right owed to the people. Our duty is to ensure that every interaction with the NIS leaves citizens and travelers with confidence in our integrity and efficiency”, he said.
