With Kemi Nandap, the way of things is not to seek the spotlight but to have it chasing her anyway. As the 19th Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), she has become one of the most consequential leaders in the agency’s history.
President Bola Tinubu recently approved a tenure extension for Nandap through December 31, 2026, a decision that reflects confidence in her reform agenda. The good lady’s approach is methodical, so the decision is a no-brainer.
Presently, she is driving the expansion of advanced e-Border Solution Projects, deploying airport e-Gates, and implementing the Advance Passenger Information System. According to experts, these technologies serve two purposes: one, they speed up legitimate travel; two, they close loopholes that have historically enabled corruption. By limiting face-to-face interactions between officers and travellers, Nandap is effectively removing opportunities for bribery at the source.
The visa regime is also changing. Thanks to Nandap, Nigeria is transitioning to a fully electronic visa system, phasing out the traditional visa-on-arrival process. The goal is transparency. An applicant who applies online and receives approval electronically does not need to negotiate with an officer at a counter. The system either approves or denies. There is no middle ground for middlemen.
Her zero-tolerance stance on corruption has produced visible results. She suspended NIS commanders at the Lagos-Seme border following serious extortion allegations. The message to the service was unmistakable: no officer is untouchable.
Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Nandap serves as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Heads of Immigration Forum, pushing for intra-regional mobility through the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card. She understands that immigration management is not just about keeping people out. It is about letting the right people move freely.
Her leadership has earned recognition, including the African Iconic Women Recognition Award and the Security Partnership Recognition Award at the Nigeria Police Awards. But the most telling tribute is quieter.
Under Nandap’s watch, the Immigration Service is becoming an institution defined by professionalism rather than patronage. What is not to like about it? So, on her birthday on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, there was much rejoicing.
