Kemi Nana Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), says extortion, procedural delays, and physical bottlenecks that once plagued passport application and renewal in Nigeria have been significantly eliminated following digital reforms across the agency.

Speaking in Abuja during the 4th Quarter Nationwide Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption and Enhanced Service Delivery, the NIS Chief said feedback from Command Centres nationwide confirms “a new era of transparency” in passport operations.

According to her, the transformation is driven by the expansion of the Service’s digital infrastructure and the deployment of advanced technologies, including automated passport applications, biometric verification systems, and improved border-processing tools.

“The deployment of modern technologies has transformed our operations, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability in all passport-related processes,” Nandap said.

She explained that Nigerians can now initiate and track their passport applications within official timelines, with minimal physical interaction—effectively closing avenues for extortion.

Nandap said the digitisation effort has redefined service delivery across NIS formations.

“By digitising our operations, we have not only enhanced transparency, but also ensured that our services meet the expectations of citizens in a rapidly changing world,” she noted.

She added that service centres have been restructured to prioritise speed, fairness, and accountability, resulting in shorter waiting times, clearer procedures, and improved customer experience.

“These reforms are proof that when systems are designed with transparency in mind, efficiency naturally follows,” she said.

The Comptroller-General also paid tribute to NIS personnel attacked by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, describing their commitment and sacrifice as “a cornerstone of our collective mission.”

The sensitization programme, themed “Innovation for Transparency and Efficiency: Strengthening Service Delivery and Combating Corruption Through Reforms”, brought together senior officials from the military, police, and anti-corruption agencies.

Ramatu Bashir, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration and Coordinator of the NIS Anti-Corruption Unit, said the sensitization campaign is designed to reinforce awareness and ensure officers align with the Service’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

She described NIS as the gateway institution shaping Nigeria’s image before citizens and the international community.

“Every interaction, every visa issued, every passport renewed is a brushstroke painting the image of our nation. We cannot afford to let that image be blurred by distrust”, she said.

Bashir added that under the “visionary leadership” of the Comptroller-General, the Service has embarked on a revolutionary digital reform agenda.

“Each innovation is a strategic brick in a wall against corruption,” she said. (BusinessDay)