Immigration Declares Zero Tolerance For Inefficiency, Corruption

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has warned its officers and personnel that inefficiency and corruption will not be tolerated in executing their duties.

The service’s Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, made the remarks while declaring open the third nationwide sensitisation campaign on ensuring “Efficient Service Delivery Through Zero Tolerance for Corruption” held at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

Nandap, who addressed the theme “Increased Digitalisation and Consolidated Innovations for Efficient and Transparent Services,” emphasised Immigration’s commitment to addressing these issues directly. She vowed to take firm action against misconduct, reinforcing the agency’s determination to uphold efficiency and transparency.

Highlighting the various measures implemented to combat systemic corruption, the NIS boss pointed out that the recent automation of most processes within the service has minimised human interaction, thus significantly lowering the chances of corruption.

She stated, “One of our flagship initiatives is the Passport Automation Programme. This innovation has considerably reduced the processing time for passports, making it easier and more convenient for Nigerians to obtain their travel documents. But that’s not all – our automation programme has also eliminated the opportunities for corruption in the manual process due to increased human interface.”

While emphasising that the anti-corruption campaign would be conducted across all service commands and formations, she highlighted the NIS’s efforts to roll out electronic visas soon, a key component of its modernisation and reform agenda.

According to Nandap, all of the service’s widely commended innovations stem from realising that their actions directly impact Nigeria’s image. This understanding, she said, has driven their commitment to ensuring integrity, transparency, and efficiency in daily operations, with the ultimate goal of eliminating corruption and enhancing service delivery.

She said, “The Service is on the verge of introducing an electronic visa (e-Visa) to make it easier for travellers to visit Nigeria. This online visa application process is designed to be more efficient and convenient for applicants by eliminating human contact in the application process, thereby minimising the risk of corruption.

“Another critical component of our anti-corruption strategy is the Contactless Passport Application Process. This innovation enables Nigerians to submit their applications online, eliminating physical contact with our officers. This makes the process more efficient and shuts out any avenue for corruption.

“The introduction of e-gates in Nigeria is a significant step towards enhancing security, streamlining airport processes, and improving overall travel experiences. These e-gates are designed to facilitate efficient and secure passenger processing, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimising the risk of corruption”.

“The introduction of body cameras by the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS is a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in our operations.

“The use of body cameras is a solution to curb brutality, enhance evidence gathering and documentation, and rebuild public trust in the Service. It can provide firsthand evidence in criminal investigations, serving as crucial evidence in legal proceedings and helping to validate witness accounts.

In the same vein, in collaboration with national anti-corruption agencies such as SERVICOM, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the NIS is strengthening its internal mechanisms to ensure that officers uphold the principles of horsemanship and service delivery ethics. “Officers who violate ethical standards will face the full consequences of the law,” she added.

She also highlighted the NIS’s partnership with Interpol as a critical element of its anti-corruption strategy. “By working closely with international law enforcement agencies, we can share intelligence, best practices, and expertise to combat corruption and other transnational crimes.

“Moreover, I am proud to announce that one of our officers is among the only five Interpol trainers recently certified for Nigeria. This further strengthens our efforts and commitment to combating corruption within the system,” she added.