The Kingdom of the Netherlands has reinforced its long-standing partnership with Nigeria by donating specialised equipment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), a move expected to strengthen customer service delivery and enhance migration management across the country.
The equipment was handed over 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, marking another chapter in more than 20 years of cooperation between both nations.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the donation as a major boost to the Service’s ongoing reforms and a testament to the strong relationship between Nigeria and the Netherlands.
According to her, the equipment will significantly improve the operational capacity of the NIS Hostmanship Unit, a department established to promote professionalism, courtesy and people-centred service delivery among immigration officers.
Nandap noted that the donation goes beyond physical assets, describing it as a strategic investment in institutional development and service excellence.
She said the equipment would help deepen the Hostmanship philosophy within the Service by equipping officers with the skills and tools needed to ensure members of the public are treated with respect, empathy and professionalism at every point of interaction.
“The equipment will further strengthen our capacity to institutionalise the Hostmanship philosophy, where every officer is inspired to make people feel welcomed, respected and valued,” she stated.
Also speaking, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja, Ronald Sonnemans, praised the collaboration between both countries, describing it as a shining example of a productive and enduring international partnership.
Sonnemans reaffirmed the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve migration governance, strengthen institutions and enhance public service delivery in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Immigration Service revealed that the partnership has already delivered significant gains over the years. These include the training of hundreds of immigration officers, the establishment of a dedicated Hostmanship Unit and several capacity-building initiatives implemented under the European Union-funded Capacity Building and Relationship Management (CBR) Project.
The Service said the latest intervention reflects the shared determination of Nigeria and the Netherlands to improve migration governance through innovation, knowledge exchange and institutional reforms designed to build public trust.
NIS also expressed gratitude to the Dutch government and the Repatriation and Departure Service for their continued support, assuring that the donated equipment would be put to effective use in advancing the agency’s transformation agenda.
In recent years, the Immigration Service has intensified efforts to modernise border management, improve service delivery and raise professional standards among its personnel. Central to these reforms is the Hostmanship programme, a customer-service model developed in Sweden that emphasises creating positive experiences by treating every individual with dignity, courtesy and empathy.
The Netherlands remains one of Nigeria’s most active partners in migration governance, supporting programmes aimed at tackling irregular migration, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting global best practices in public service delivery.
With the latest donation, stakeholders say the NIS is better positioned to accelerate its reforms and advance its goal of building a more efficient, citizen-focused and globally competitive immigration system.
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