The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, says that the partnership of the NIS with the Kingdom of the Netherlands is yielding significant gains in security, migration governance and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening service delivery across the service.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the official handover ceremony of equipment donated to the Hostmanship Unit of the NIS, the Comptroller-General of Immigration said that the equipment was donated by the Repatriation and Departure Service, Ministry of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Nandap described the partnership as one founded on mutual respect, shared values and a common commitment to strengthening migration governance and institutional capacity.
She said that the donation marked another significant milestone in the sustained collaboration between both countries that reflected their collective resolve.
This, she said, was to build an organisation where professionalism, empathy, courtesy and excellence define every interaction with members of the public.
“The donated equipment represents an investment in people, institutional excellence and a shared vision of transforming service delivery within the NIS. The equipment and items being formally handed over today are much more than a collection of office assets,” she said.
The CGI noted that the hostmanship initiative has emerged as one of the service’s most impactful institutional reforms in spite of being recently established.
She said that through structured training programmes, the development of the NIS Guest Engagement Guidelines and the dedication of certified hostmanship trainers, the service was steadily embedding a guest-centred culture across its formations.
Nandap explained that the initiative is transforming how the service is relating with Nigerians and other legitimate travelers, while promoting professionalism and excellent public service delivery.
According to her, the donated equipment will significantly strengthen the capacity of the hostmanship unit by enhancing training delivery, improving operational efficiency and providing resources needed to sustain its institutionalisation across the service.
“The donated items include one 24 KVA solar inverter system, one 20-kilowatt backup lithium battery, two 75-inch LG Smart televisions, one television stand, one television wall hanger, one digital projector and one projector screen.
“Others are nine sun-shaped window blinds, one outdoor wireless internet router, four solar standing fans, one integrated sound system, two wireless microphones, one HP laptop computer, one whiteboard and one whiteboard stand,” she said.
Nandap expressed appreciation to the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, particularly the repatriation and departure service, for its unwavering support and confidence in the NIS reform initiatives.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the NIS to deepening its collaboration with the Kingdom of the Netherlands in pursuit of safer migration, stronger institutions and world-class service delivery.
Earlier, Mr. JanWillem König described the establishment of a dedicated hostmanship unit within the NIS as a clear demonstration of the service’s commitment to institutional reforms and improved service delivery
König, who was accompanied by Ms. Nardy Booiman, Senior Policy Officer, Ministry of Justice and Security, Netherlands, said that the longstanding partnership between both institutions had been strengthened through mutual working visits.
He stated that the partnership included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on migration, capacity-building programmes and information sharing initiatives.
According to him, his organisation did not hesitate to support the initiative when it learnt of the NIS plans to establish the unit.
König also expressed appreciation to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria for facilitating the procurement of the donated equipment in spite of time constraints.
In his remarks, Mr Ronald Sonnemans, Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Abuja, described the collaboration between the NIS and the Dutch repatriation and departure service as a vivid example of the strong bilateral relationship between both countries.
Sonnemans expressed optimism about future programmes under the partnership, noting that the hostmanship mindset had taken deep roots within the service.
He added that the impact of the initiative was evident in the conduct and professionalism of Immigration officers at Nigeria’s airports.
GIK/APA