•Immigration officers on parade
No fewer than 15 newly promoted Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) of Immigration and 95 Comptrollers of Immigration were decorated with their new ranks at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) Abuja today.
The decorations were done by Special Guests, including former Comptrollers-General, representatives of Serving Heads of Para-military institutions and the Secretary of the Board of Civil Defence Corps, Correctional Service, Fire and Immigration Services, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ahmed.
Five Immigration officers were given Special Promotions in recognition of their outstanding contributions, performances and proven records of integrity in the service.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap said a total of 13,977 officers were promoted in the Service by the federal government, saying the promotion was historic as it ended years of stagnation in the NIS, reports The Nation.
She explained that of the 13, 977, Assistant Comptrollers-General were 15, while 95 were promoted to the rank of Comptrollers of Immigration.
According to Mrs Nandap, 6,697 officers rose from Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI2) to Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI) and 7,280 personnel advanced from Immigration Assistant II (IA2) to Inspector of Immigration (II).
Mrs Nandap who described the promotions as well-deserved, noted that was a mark of “acknowledging their hard work, exceptional dedication and commitment to serving the nation especially at management cadre.”
She praised the Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for working tirelessly to see the promotions through and also commended the officers/men of NIS for their loyalty, sacrifices and the support given to them by their family members and friends.
She, however, said the ongoing reforms in the NIS placed more responsibilities on officers and men of the Service to re-educate themselves to the service of the nation and help improve the country’s security architecture in border management and security.
Mrs Nandap said: “This mass promotion, unprecedented in scope and impact, sends a powerful message about our commitment to rewarding excellence, fostering growth, and building a Service that is not only motivated but also equipped to meet the demands of a modern and complex world.
“This promotion must be seen as a call to greater responsibility. With a renewed focus on border governance, migration management, and the application of cutting-edge technology in our operations, we are determined to create a Service that is responsive to the needs of Nigeria in the 21st century.
“Therefore, the Nation and Service in particular places greater trust in your capabilities and as such, you must redouble your efforts to face complex challenges.
“Your leadership experience and managerial skills; integrity and strategic thinking will be essential in your new responsibilities to reposition the NIS as a key player in the security architecture of our country.
“The NIS, and indeed the nation, looks to you for leadership in critical areas such as securing our borders, enhancing migration control, and maintaining the integrity of our immigration processes.”
The Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ahmed said the era of stagnation in the paramilitary services is gone and urged officers and men to rededicate themselves to the Service of the country.
Ahmed commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for changing the narratives of the paramilitary institutions, saying promotions carried out in the Services within the past 16 months were unprecedented.
