The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on migration management and tackling human smuggling.
This follows the donation of training and operational equipment by the Netherlands’ Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Hostmanship Unit at a ceremony in Abuja.
The Hostmanship Unit is a specialized NIS initiative focused on improving service delivery through empathy, professionalism, and respect in public interactions. The program was developed in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security.
The donated equipment, including a solar inverter system, backup batteries, smart TVs, training tools, and ICT infrastructure, is expected to enhance training capacity and operational efficiency within the unit.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the donation as a strategic investment in institutional excellence, noting that it reinforces efforts to build a more professional and citizen-focused immigration service.
She added that the Hostmanship Unit has already made progress in promoting a guest-centered culture through structured training and the development of engagement guidelines for officers.
Netherlands Charge d’Affaires in Abuja, Ronnald Sonnemans, praised the collaboration, highlighting visible improvements in NIS personnel through Hostmanship training. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continued partnership in migration governance.
Also speaking, Dutch Senior Adviser Jan-Willem Keuninck noted that both countries have maintained over 25 years of cooperation in migration, including joint programs, training exchanges, and a Memorandum of Understanding.
He disclosed plans for a new executive-level training program for NIS officials in the Netherlands later this year.
NIS Hostmanship Coordinator, ACI Samson Thomas, described the support as a symbol of trust and growing bilateral relations, pledging to sustain and expand the initiative within the service.
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