Immigration Service Inaugurates 108 Anti-Corruption Officers Nationwide
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has inaugurated 108 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) desk officers across its formations nationwide.
The inauguration, which took place on Thursdsy, was part of efforts to strengthen integrity, accountability and ethical governance within the Service.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the deployment as a major milestone in building a proactive, grassroots framework to entrench ethical standards across the agency.
“We are gathered not merely to inaugurate officers, but to entrench a proactive, grassroots architecture for ethical governance,” Nandap said.
The newly deployed officers comprise 12 posted to the Service Headquarters and 96 drawn from state commands. According to the CG, they were selected based on proven integrity, courage and sound judgment. While headquarters-based officers took their oath of allegiance at the ceremony, others are expected to be sworn in at their respective commands.
Addressing the officers, Nandap said they were not ordinary additions to the Service, but ethical champions and standard bearers charged with safeguarding professionalism within their formations.
She outlined three core responsibilities for the ACTU desk officers: enlightenment, deterrence and punishment. On enlightenment, she tasked them with conducting continuous education and awareness programmes on ethical standards, service regulations and relevant laws to foster a culture of integrity.
On deterrence, the officers are to serve as confidential and credible channels for reporting misconduct, while on punishment, they will collaborate with Command Comptrollers and ACTU headquarters to ensure proven cases of unethical behaviour are addressed in line with applicable laws and regulations.
Nandap added that the officers would also monitor compliance with transparency initiatives, including the transparent auction of seized items, as well as enforce service standards in passport administration, visa processing and border operations to ensure that violations attract appropriate sanctions.
She urged formation heads to support the officers and provide an enabling environment free from obstruction or intimidation, stressing that their mandate was not to undermine command authority but to reinforce it.
“Their mandate is not to undermine command authority, but to reinforce it. See them as partners in building formations defined by credibility and pride,” she said.
Representatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Army pledged support and collaboration with the Service.
ICPC’s Olusegun Adigun said the officers would enhance transparency, monitor ethical compliance and conduct corruption risk assessments, while Army representative, Lt. Col. S.H. Sanadi, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to internal controls and cooperation in anti-corruption reforms.
Speaking on behalf of the 108 officers, R.A. Bashiru commended the CG’s digital reforms, noting that they had “operationalised integrity” within the Service.
Nandap concluded that the inauguration sends a clear signal that under her leadership, the Nigeria Immigration Service maintains zero tolerance for corruption and remains committed to building a professional, transparent and respected institution.
