Posted by Chinenye on Thu 12th Nov, 2026 - tori.ng
The head of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, has warned 106 newly promoted officers not to collect bribes, cheat people or use their new positions to oppress others.
(Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap. Photo Credit: NIS)
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap, has warned newly promoted comptrollers that corruption, extortion and abuse of office will not be tolerated under her watch.
She spoke on Thursday at the decoration ceremony for 106 newly promoted comptrollers at the service headquarters in Abuja.
Twelve of them had already retired, so 94 were decorated on the day.
Nandap told them that a higher rank means greater responsibility.
She said corruption, extortion, abuse of power, professional negligence and indiscipline have no place in the service being built.
An online reporter said that she expects every controller to have zero tolerance for misconduct and to make sure officers under them know the consequences of breaking the rules.
She said the new rank is not just an extra badge on their shoulders but a heavier load of trust and a higher standard of conduct.
Kemi said that they must move from simply carrying out orders to making policy calls, using good judgment and inspiring their teams.
She urged them to focus on results rather than activity, and on leadership rather than authority.
She said the service needs effective leaders, not just more senior officers.
Nandap also warned that leading by example is not optional.
She said officers cannot demand integrity from others while compromising their own, and that public confidence cannot exist where accountability is missing.
She told the new commanders to be known for efficiency rather than excuses, discipline rather than disorder, service rather than intimidation and integrity rather than compromise.
She said the service is going through major reforms, including e Border systems, the Border Control and Immigration Management System, passenger data systems, e Gates and electronic visa administration.
The aim is to make the service intelligence led and tech driven.
She warned, though, that technology cannot make up for weak leadership, poor supervision or a lack of accountability.
Nandap asked the officers to make sure the reforms reach every command, border post and airport, not just headquarters.
She also reminded them to treat people with dignity, fairness and respect, since every passport application, border crossing and immigration inquiry involves a real person.
She added that national security and good service delivery go hand in hand.
Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who attended as a special guest, pledged stronger cooperation between the police and immigration.
He said the two agencies depend on each other for intelligence sharing, mutual support and joint work to protect the country.
Disu told the newly promoted officers to see their promotion as a call to greater responsibility and better leadership.
He asked them to lead with integrity, discipline and humility.
He also thanked their spouses, saying they deserved the promotion too.
Representatives of several other agencies attended the event, including the Customs chief, the Correctional Service boss, the Civil Defence commandant, the Federal Fire Service chief and the Minister of Interior.
The Human Resources Directorate also said that under Nandap, the service has promoted 8502 officers from Assistant Inspector III to Assistant Inspector I, 75 from Assistant Inspector II, and hundreds more across other ranks.