By Gabriel Ameh
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government of Italy have strengthened their partnership on border management with a new intervention to improve the operational capacity of the Service.
The 18-month project, implemented by UNODC with financial support from the Government of Italy through its Ministry of the Interior’s Department of Public Security – Central Directorate for Immigration and Border Police (DCIPF), will provide the NIS with 30 operational vehicles and 60 computers.
According to the NIS, the equipment is expected to improve border surveillance, mobility and control, particularly at remote and high-risk border locations.
The project was officially launched on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during a high-level meeting convened by UNODC at the United Nations House in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, expressed appreciation to the Government of Italy and UNODC for their continued support towards strengthening the Service.
Nandap said the provision of the vehicles and computers would enhance the Service’s mobility, surveillance capabilities, digital infrastructure and overall operational efficiency.
She noted that the support would be particularly important for immigration personnel working in remote and high-risk border areas.
The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to improve border management and strengthen institutional capacity.
Also speaking, the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Toure, said the participation of senior officials at the flag-off ceremony demonstrated the importance attached to the project.
Toure said the initiative was designed to help address existing mobility and technology gaps within Nigeria’s border management system.
The NIS said it would ensure the judicious use of the equipment and leverage the intervention to further strengthen border management, national security and the promotion of safe, orderly and regular migration.
Source: Nigeria Immigration Service
