Nigeria Immigration Service Advances Digital Border Security

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), under the leadership of Comptroller-General Kemi Nandap, is accelerating the implementation of digital identity systems, automated border controls, and intelligence-led surveillance to enhance border security in Nigeria. This initiative was disclosed on Monday in Lagos during the 2026 conference of the African Borderlands Research Network, themed “The Connected Borderlands: Socio-Cultural Integration and the Centrality of Policy, Research, and Security.” Nandap emphasized the need for a modern approach to border management, acknowledging the complexities of migration patterns, regional integration, and security threats.

She identified issues such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and organized crime as significant challenges. The NIS has been moving towards technology-driven border administration since 2007, when Nigeria became the first African country to introduce an electronic passport.

The NIS has since upgraded its e-Passport system with enhanced features and is now deploying contactless biometric passport services for Nigerians abroad.