Border security is a very vital part of national security. It involves controlling the movement of people and goods across international boundaries, preventing illegal activities and protecting national interests. This emphasises the importance of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), charged with ensuring safe and regular migration, while also combating trans-border crimes and maintaining border integrity.
Kemi Nanna Nandap, the incumbent Comptroller-General of the NIS has been at the forefront of the service’s mission since her appointment on 1st March, 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Her tenure which should have ended with the month of August, 2025 was extended to run until December 2026. This followed a commendation by the President, of her commitment to excellent leadership and alignment with the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Under Kemi Nandap’s leadership, the NIS is revolutionising border security and immigration management in Nigeria.
Before the NIS, Nandap earned double masters academically. The first is an MSc degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Jos. An MBA also followed from the University of Abuja. She opted to join the NIS in 1989 as an Assistant Superintendent. She trained at the Immigration Training School Kano and also at the Immigration Command and Staff College.
Throughout her career which has spanned three decades, Kemi Nandap has held various positions within the Immigration service. During this period, she served as Comptroller of immigration at the Muritala Muhammad International Airport and Officer-in-charge of ECOWAS and African Affairs amongst other senior roles. Her excellent performance in these roles saw her up the ladder of influence within the NIS.
The peak of Nandap’s career at NIS started with a promotion to the role of Assistant Comptroller-General. After that, she moved up to the position of Deputy Comptroller-General; first overseeing the Migration Directorate, where she worked on issues related to human trafficking, smuggling, and international migration cooperation. In December 2023, she was placed in charge of the Passport and Other Travel Documents Directorate. In this position, she led the execution of a reform to modernise Nigeria’s passport system.
Immediately she was appointed to the position of Comptroller-General of NIS, Kemi Nandap seized the platform to fast-track a wholesome strategy which modernised immigration processes by incorporating technology. This includes the introduction of an Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), the e-Border Solution Project, passenger name record (PNR) systems, the installation of e-Gates at airports, and the automation of visa issuance and passport processing. These were carried out as part of the Modernising Nigerian Immigration Service (MoNIS) Project.
Being committed to growth and innovation, Nandap also led to the development of a reliable data management system. Through this, the NIS is able to gather, analyse and manage relevant data related to migration and border security trends. This data-driven approach has improved the efficiency of the service and its officers.
In order to maximize the potentials of the NIS workforce, she oversaw the launching of various training programs focusing on the most crucial service areas such as document identification, Chinese communication skills and analysis of migration data. Through this, the NIS has built a more confident workforce with each personnel being better equipped to undertake available tasks.
Through her dedication to excellence, Kemi Nandap has revamped Nigeria’s Immigration Sector. The modernisation of the immigration process has improved border security and enhanced immigration services. This includes the clearing of over 200,000 passport backlogs, which has significantly increased public trust.
Also, Her administration contributed to the improvement of international relations through collaboration with the Government of Denmark and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The adoption of a technological approach for monitoring migration at the borders has improved the identification of illegal movements. This is a green tick for national security and would greatly increase dependability of the country.
So far, so excellent, Kemi Nandap has championed untold innovation and growth within the NIS. The adoption of technology as well as the training of the NIS personnel has featured great progress for the Nigerian immigration sector. Amidst the saying that the reward for a job well done is more work, there is no doubt that the NIS is set to occasion unimaginable growth under her leadership in the coming year.
