The Kingdom of the Netherlands has donated specialised equipment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to strengthen its Hostmanship Unit, reinforcing over two decades of bilateral cooperation aimed at improving migration management, institutional capacity and customer service delivery.
The equipment was presented by the Repatriation and Departure Service (R&DS) of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security during a ceremony held at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja. Receiving the donation, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the gesture as another milestone in the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the Netherlands.
She said the equipment would enhance the operational efficiency and training capacity of the Hostmanship Unit while supporting ongoing reforms within the Service. According to Nandap, the Hostmanship programme is designed to promote a service culture where immigration officers treat members of the public with courtesy, empathy and professionalism at every point of contact.
She noted that the donation would further strengthen the Service’s efforts to institutionalise the Hostmanship philosophy, ensuring that every officer is committed to making people feel welcomed, respected and valued. Also speaking at the event, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja, Ronald Sonnemans, described the collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service as a model of sustained international partnership.
He reaffirmed the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve migration management, strengthen institutional capacity and enhance public service delivery in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Immigration Service disclosed that the partnership has already yielded significant results, including the training of hundreds of immigration officers, the establishment of a dedicated Hostmanship Unit and continuous capacity-building programmes under the European Union-funded Capacity Building and Relationship Management (CBR) Project.
According to the Service, the latest donation reflects the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening migration governance through innovation, knowledge sharing and institutional reforms that improve public confidence in immigration services.
The NIS expressed appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Repatriation and Departure Service for their continued support, pledging to ensure that the donated equipment is effectively utilised to advance ongoing reforms.
In recent years, the Nigeria Immigration Service has intensified efforts to modernise border management, improve service delivery and enhance the professionalism of its personnel. A key aspect of these reforms is the Hostmanship programme, a customer service philosophy developed in Sweden that focuses on delivering positive service experiences by treating every individual with respect, courtesy and empathy.
The Netherlands remains one of Nigeria’s key international partners in migration governance, supporting capacity-building initiatives through bilateral cooperation and European Union-funded programmes. The partnership has focused on improving migration management, combating irregular migration, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting international best practices in public service delivery.
The latest donation is expected to further consolidate these reforms as the Nigeria Immigration Service continues its drive to build a more citizen-focused and globally competitive immigration system.
