Immigration chief Nandap warns officers: corruption will not be tolerated
- Kemi Nandap says officers who compromise immigration processes will face the law.
- She spoke in Abuja after President Tinubu approved an 18-month extension of her tenure.
- Nandap also urged staff to treat Nigerians seeking passports and other services with courtesy.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has told her officers that anyone caught cutting corners or abusing office will face the law, saying the warning is not an empty threat.
Nandap spoke in Abuja at a reception held by officers and personnel to mark President Bola Tinubu's approval of an 18-month extension of her tenure, according to Daily Trust and The Nation.
Her message matters to ordinary Nigerians because the NIS handles passports, residence permits and border checks, services where applicants often complain of extra charges and long waits.
Service first, security too
Nandap said the Service is people-centred and must put Nigerians first in how it delivers services and treats customers.
"Do not compromise the system, because any officer caught in such a situation will face the full wrath of the law," she said.
She also warned that better customer service must not come at the cost of security, asking officers to guard immigration processes properly and guide applicants correctly.
Officers should explain how immigration procedures work and how people can access the Service's offerings, she said, adding that clear guidance would improve service delivery.
Nandap thanked the President for the extension, saying the Service would work to justify the confidence placed in it through effective and professional service in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said she was surprised by the welcome at the headquarters, where officers lined up to receive her. "I am overwhelmed," she said, adding that the show of support touched her deeply.
The extension keeps her at the head of the agency responsible for immigration administration, border management and enforcement of Nigeria's immigration laws.
What happens next
Nandap's warning signals a renewed push for discipline and transparency inside the Service, particularly in how applications are handled. Whether it translates into faster passports and fewer complaints at NIS offices is what applicants will be watching.
