Immigration Orders Airport Security Overhaul, Deploys High-Tech Anti-Corruption Tools

In a decisive move to crush corruption and seal Nigeria’s air borders against emerging security threats, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has ordered a sweeping, nationwide overhaul of all airport operations.

According to an official statement released Sunday, 9 August 2026, by the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, via the official NIS “X” handle, the programme was executed under the theme, “Repositioning NIS Airport Operations for Professional Excellence, Ethical Conduct and Enhanced Service Delivery.”

Akinlabi stated that the critical security crackdown kicked off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Command in Abuja, where frontline personnel had just completed an intensive two-week tactical training regimen focused on advanced passenger profiling, automated e-Gates, and biometric surveillance.

This initiative, according to the statement, marks the first phase of a sweeping national programme to systematically upgrade the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) airport formations nationwide.

The statement noted that the first leg of the intensive training project ran from 28 July to 7 August 2026, with daily sessions held at the Service national headquarters in Abuja.

Akinlabi explained that the specialised curriculum was designed to instil critical practical knowledge and technical skills, with a strong focus on advanced technologies such as the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and the operation of automated e-Gates.

Additionally, he stated that the training focused on strengthening passenger profiling, visa and entry verification, passenger and crew clearance, apron operations, queue management, hostmanship, ethical conduct, and strict anti-corruption practices.

The statement further explained that the capacity-building initiative was introduced by the Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, in direct response to the rapidly evolving demands of modern airport operations, the massive surge in international passenger traffic, and the critical need for advanced technology in contemporary border management.

They also added that the overhaul will, among other upgrades, ensure that NIS personnel are adequately equipped to confidently counter emerging operational and security challenges at the nation’s primary gateways.

The service emphasised that the training marks a permanent shift toward accountability and modernisation. The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to continuously improving its airport operations through professional capacity development, innovation, accountability and adherence to global best practices, tailored towards effective border security and enhancing international travellers’ experience,” the statement concluded.