By Steve Agbota
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday reiterated its commitment to eliminating corruption from its system and improving service delivery through digital transformation in the country.
Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, stated this at the Lagos Seaports/Marine Command during the occasion of the flag-off
sensitization and awareness campaign against corruption 2025, with the theme: “Increased Digitalization and Consolidated Innovations for Efficient and Transparent Services,” resonates deeply with its commitment to transforming NIS into a corruption-free organization.
Nandap ,who was represented by the Controller, Lagos Seaports/Marine Command, Clementine Ogbudu pointed out the importance of technology in fostering a more transparent immigration process, saying the the essence of the sensitization campaign was to ensure efficient service delivery through zero tolerance for corruption.
“NIS plays a pivotal role in National Security, Border Management, and Facilitation of regular Migration. Our responsibility is immense, and our actions significantly impact the image of Nigeria. Therefore, ensuring integrity, transparency, and efficiency in our operations is not just a duty but a necessity.
“As we gather here today, I want to emphasize that corruption is a menace that undermines the very fabric of our society. It erodes trust, discourages investment, and impedes our collective progress. However, I am proud to say that the NIS has been working tirelessly to eliminate corruption and ensure efficient service delivery.
“Last year, we made a firm commitment to mitigate corruption in all its forms. It is on this basis that we engaged in an increased digitalization and consolidated innovations to improve Service Delivery and eliminate corruption in the Service,” she explained.
According to her, one of NIS’s flagship initiatives is the passport automation program, which has significantly reduced the processing time for passports, making it easier and more convenient for Nigerians to obtain their travel documents.
She said the Service’s automation program has also eliminated the opportunities for corruption that existed in the manual process, due to increased human interface.
“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 not only makes the process more efficient but also 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 minimizing the risk of corruption,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ogbudu said that the fight against corruption has come to stay, saying it would no longer be business as usual among the Service’s officers.
“And my CGIS Nandap has put so many mechanisms to ensure that corruption is eradicated completely from the system. We are not reducing it, we are going to remove it completely from our system. Whatever is obtainable in other climes and organisations is achievable under her leadership, and I’m here as the Controller of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command to drive that.
“You can hear the testimony from the stakeholders, we are fighting corruption. I can assure you that we are going to eradicate corruption from the seaports. Officers are going to wear body cameras. It would no longer be a situation whereby the agents or the ship owners are the only ones with evidence; we are equally going to have our evidence to present in case the need arises,” she added.