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…..Service targets professionalism, ethical conduct, faster passenger clearance and improved travellers’ experience
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intensified efforts to transform operations at the nation’s airports, equipping its personnel with new skills and professional standards aimed at strengthening border security and improving service delivery.
The move followed the successful completion of a two-week intensive capacity-building programme organised for personnel of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Command, Abuja.
The training, held from July 28 to August 7, 2026, at the Shehu Shagari Conference Hall, NIS Headquarters, Abuja, marked the first in a planned series of specialised programmes for NIS airport formations across the country.
The initiative, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, was designed to prepare immigration personnel for the changing realities of modern airport operations and the increasing deployment of technology in border management.
With the theme, “Repositioning NIS Airport Operations for Professional Excellence, Ethical Conduct and Enhanced Service Delivery,” the programme focused on equipping officers with practical knowledge and skills needed to deliver efficient, professional and passenger-friendly services.
Among the key areas covered were passenger profiling, visa and entry verification, passenger and crew clearance, queue management, the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), e-Gates, apron operations, hostmanship, ethical conduct and anti-corruption practices.
The Service said the training was necessitated by the evolving demands of international aviation, rising passenger traffic and the increasing reliance on technology to facilitate efficient and secure border management.
According to the NIS, officers operating at airports must remain abreast of emerging technologies, international standards and modern approaches to passenger processing if Nigeria is to maintain secure and seamless borders.
The programme is therefore expected to enhance the ability of officers to identify potential security threats while ensuring that genuine travellers receive timely and professional assistance.
Beyond operational competence, the training also placed strong emphasis on ethics and integrity, with participants exposed to anti-corruption principles and the importance of maintaining professionalism in the discharge of immigration duties.
The NIS said the initiative forms part of its broader commitment to continuous professional development, innovation, accountability and adherence to global best practices.
The Service stressed that effective airport immigration operations require a delicate balance between national security and positive traveller experience, particularly as Nigeria continues to strengthen its position as a major destination and transit point for international travellers.
The capacity-building programme is consequently expected to serve as a model for similar training initiatives at other airport commands across the country.
The NIS maintained that sustained investment in the capacity of its personnel remains critical to achieving effective border security and delivering a modern immigration service capable of responding to emerging challenges.
The Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi, signed the statement on behalf of the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja, on August 9, 2026.
The latest initiative underscores the Service’s determination to reposition airport operations around professionalism, technology, accountability and efficient service delivery while ensuring that Nigeria’s borders remain secure.
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