The Nigeria Immigration Service on Thursday honoured four senior officers who retired after 35 years of service, describing their careers as a significant contribution to the development and transformation of the agency.
The officers were celebrated during a grand valedictory session held at the NIS headquarters in Abuja, attended by senior management staff, serving officers, family members, friends and other well-wishers.
The retirees are Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics, D.M. Bagari; Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, A. Obianime; Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Border Management, A.R. Sabo; and Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of the Migration Directorate, A.M. Halliday.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency, F.U. Nwanneka, commended the retirees for their years of service and described them as officers whose leadership and professional contributions had helped shape the Immigration Service.
Nwanneka said the officers demonstrated dedication and leadership throughout their careers and contributed to the growth and transformation of the organisation.
She conveyed the appreciation of the Comptroller-General and the entire Immigration Service to the retirees, while wishing them a fulfilling and rewarding life after service.
The valedictory ceremony was described by the Service as a celebration of excellence, institutional legacy and selfless service to the country.
The recognition of the four officers comes at a time when the NIS is also seeking to maintain stronger links with retired personnel and make use of their accumulated institutional knowledge.
On Wednesday, the National Association of Retired Immigration Officers in Nigeria held its maiden annual conference in Abuja, where its chairman, Charles Okafor, said retired officers remained interested in contributing to national development, border management and improvements in the operations of the Immigration Service.
The development also follows an assurance by the Immigration Service that it is working to address outstanding financial obligations owed to retired officers.
The Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap, said the Service had directed its Finance and Accounts department to compile outstanding liabilities involving retirees. These include death benefits, repatriation allowances, pensions and other entitlements.
Nandap described retired officers as the “institutional memory” of the Immigration Service and said their experience could continue to be useful to the agency even after retirement.
She also disclosed plans to establish a Nigerian Immigration Resource Centre that could provide a structured avenue for tapping into the expertise of retired personnel and keeping them engaged with the development of the Service.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to maintain institutional continuity as experienced officers leave active service.
For the four officers honoured on Thursday, the valedictory ceremony marked the formal end of decades of service in areas central to immigration administration, including border management, migration, planning, research, technology and cybersecurity.
Their retirement also creates a new transition point for the Service as it continues to manage Nigeria’s migration system, border-control responsibilities and related national security functions.
The NIS said the ceremony provided an opportunity for serving officers and members of the retirees’ families to acknowledge their achievements and celebrate their contributions to the country.
The Service wished the four retirees success and fulfilment in their post-retirement lives, while emphasising the value of the knowledge and experience they accumulated during their 35 years in public service.
