By James Sunday, FCAI, MNIIA
Former Head of Media, Nigeria Immigration Service
As the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) marks its 62nd anniversary, it is an opportune moment to reflect not just on its longevity but on the bold, strategic transformations that have positioned it as a continental leader in digital migration management. From 2007 to 2025, the journey of the NIS has been one of digital vision, technical evolution, and unwavering commitment to global standards, a legacy built by forward-thinking leadership and sustained by dedicated officers.
The foundation of NIS’s digital transformation was laid on 17th May 2007 under the leadership of Comptroller General of Immigration Chukwurah Joseph Udeh, OFR, who initiated Nigeria’s migration from the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to the electronic passport (e-passport). This pivotal shift placed Nigeria on the global map as the first African country to implement the e-passport, aligning with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard and setting a new benchmark for digital identity and travel documentation across the continent.
A decade later, in 2017, that vision was elevated. Faced with an increasingly complex security environment and rising expectations for global compliance and credibility, CGI Muhammad Babandede, CFR, introduced the Enhanced E-Passport, a high-security, highly durable, and technologically advanced travel document. Backed by the approval of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, the Enhanced E-Passport was unveiled and officially launched at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa. The first recipients were none other than President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, signalling a top-level endorsement of Nigeria’s leadership in passport innovation.
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The Enhanced E-Passport has remained a point of pride and continuity of policy across successive NIS administrations. With its polycarbonate data page, extended 10-year validity, and tamper-proof features, the passport is not just an ID document; it is a symbol of modernity, credibility, and trust in Nigeria’s travel systems. The online application and payment systems introduced alongside it have enhanced transparency and reduced corruption. The integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) has aligned Nigeria’s identity systems with international best practices, reinforcing the concept of one citizen, one identity.
Behind this achievement was the focused leadership of the then Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau, who worked in synergy with CGI Babandede to midwife a reform that has not only stood the test of time but continues to earn global recognition.
As a former spokesperson of the Service, I believe that the NIS has entered its golden era, a digital era where technology, service delivery, and global respect must remain at the forefront of every reform. The current leadership of the Service must build on this solid foundation, insisting on merit-based promotions, staff development, and efficient deployment to improve service quality across all touchpoints, at home and abroad.
At 62, the NIS must pause to honour the labour of its pioneers and digital reformers, the heroes past whose foresight and innovation laid the path forward. We must never allow that labour to be in vain.
Established by Parliament in August 1963, the Nigeria Immigration Service has grown from a traditional gatekeeping outfit to a globally relevant digital security and migration institution. Serving and retired officers should take pride in what has been achieved, and be inspired to protect the vision that brought the Service this far.
This anniversary is not just a celebration of age; it is a clarion call to consolidate, improve, and sustain excellence. The world is watching. And with the right vision, the Nigeria Immigration Service will continue to lead.