The Kingdom of the Netherlands has donated specialised equipment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to strengthen its Hostmanship Unit, in a move aimed at enhancing migration management, institutional capacity and customer service delivery across Nigeria’s immigration system.
The equipment was presented on Monday at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja by the Repatriation and Departure Service (R&DS) of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, marking another milestone in more than two decades of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the Netherlands.
Receiving the donation, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the gesture as a strategic investment that would deepen ongoing reforms within the Service and improve operational efficiency.
She said the equipment would significantly enhance the training capacity of the Hostmanship Unit while reinforcing efforts to institutionalise a culture of professionalism, courtesy and empathy among immigration officers.
According to Nandap, the Hostmanship philosophy is designed to ensure that every officer treats members of the public with respect and dignity at every point of service delivery.
“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 said.
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 enduring international partnership.
He reaffirmed the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen migration governance, build institutional capacity and improve 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 sustained capacity-building programmes under the European Union-funded Capacity Building and Relationship Management (CBR) Project.
The Service noted that the latest donation reflects the shared commitment of both countries to promoting innovation, knowledge exchange and institutional reforms that strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s immigration system.
It also expressed appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Repatriation and Departure Service for their continued support, assuring that the donated equipment would be effectively deployed to advance ongoing reforms.
The NIS has intensified reforms in recent years to modernise border management, improve service delivery and enhance the professionalism of its personnel. Central to these reforms is the Hostmanship programme, a customer-service philosophy developed in Sweden that promotes positive service experiences through 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 focused on combating irregular migration, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting global best practices in public service delivery.
The latest intervention is expected to further consolidate the Nigeria Immigration Service’s drive towards building a more citizen-focused, efficient and globally competitive immigration system.
