Abuja: The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that its ongoing partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands is yielding considerable benefits in the areas of security, migration governance, and institutional reforms. This collaboration aims to enhance service delivery throughout the organization, as highlighted by the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Kemi Nandap, during an official handover ceremony of equipment to the Hostmanship Unit of the NIS.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the equipment was donated by the Repatriation and Departure Service, Ministry of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Nandap emphasized that this partnership is based on mutual respect, shared values, and a joint commitment to improving migration governance and institutional capacity. She noted that the donation is a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the two nations, reflecting their shared dedication to building an organization characterized by professionalism, empathy, courtesy, and excellence in every public interaction.
The CGI explained that the donated equipment represents an investment in people, institutional excellence, and a shared vision of transforming service delivery within the NIS. She highlighted that the hostmanship initiative, although recently established, has emerged as one of the service’s most impactful institutional reforms. Through structured training programs, development of the NIS Guest Engagement Guidelines, and dedication of certified hostmanship trainers, the service is embedding a guest-centered culture across its operations.
Nandap stated that the initiative is transforming how the service interacts with Nigerians and other legitimate travelers, promoting professionalism and excellent public service delivery. The donated equipment is expected to significantly enhance the capacity of the hostmanship unit by improving training delivery, operational efficiency, and providing necessary resources for its institutionalization.
The donated items include a 24 KVA solar inverter system, a 20-kilowatt backup lithium battery, two 75-inch LG Smart televisions, and various other equipment aimed at improving the functionality and efficiency of the hostmanship unit. Nandap expressed gratitude to the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for its unwavering support and confidence in the NIS reform initiatives, highlighting the partnership’s evolution into a genuine collaboration based on trust and shared learning.
Mr. JanWillem K¶nig, accompanied by Ms. Nardy Booiman, emphasized the significance of the hostmanship unit as a demonstration of the NIS’s commitment to institutional reforms. He acknowledged the longstanding partnership between both institutions, strengthened through mutual working visits, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on migration, and capacity-building programs.
Mr. Ronald Sonnemans, Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Abuja, described the collaboration as a strong bilateral relationship example, expressing optimism about future programs under the partnership. He noted that the hostmanship mindset had deeply rooted within the service, evident in the conduct and professionalism of Immigration officers at Nigeria’s airports.
ACI Samson Thomas, Hostmanship Coordinator of the NIS, described the donation as a testament to the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the Dutch Repatriation and Departure Service, emphasizing the collaboration’s significant achievements for both organizations. The donated items represent more than valuable assets but also the trust, friendship, and cooperation existing between the two countries.