Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on migration management and combating human smuggling, with the Dutch government donating equipment to support the Nigeria Immigration Service’s (NIS) Hostmanship Unit.

The Federal Government and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation on migration management and tackling human smuggling.

The renewed partnership was underscored on Tuesday with the donation of training and office equipment by the Repatriation and Departure Service of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Hostmanship Unit in Abuja.

The Hostmanship programme is a specialised service delivery and human dignity initiative developed through collaboration between the NIS and the Dutch Repatriation and Departure Service. It is designed to train immigration officers to engage the public with empathy, professionalism, hospitality and respect.

The donated items include a 24KVA solar inverter system, a 20-kilowatt backup lithium battery, two 75-inch LG Smart TVs, a digital projector and screen, an HP laptop, an integrated sound system, wireless microphones, solar-powered standing fans, internet equipment, window blinds, a whiteboard and other training resources.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Comptroller-General of Immigration Kemi Nandap described the donation as an investment in institutional excellence rather than simply the provision of office equipment.

She said the items reflected a shared commitment to building an immigration service where professionalism, courtesy, empathy and excellence define every interaction with members of the public.

According to Nandap, the Hostmanship Unit has made significant progress since its establishment by embedding a guest-centred culture across the service through structured training programmes and the development of the Nigeria Immigration Service Guest Engagement Guidelines.

She said the new equipment would strengthen the unit’s capacity to deliver training and improve operational efficiency.

Nandap thanked the Government of the Netherlands, particularly its Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V), for what she described as unwavering support.

She said the partnership had evolved beyond technical assistance into “a genuine collaboration built on trust, shared learning and a common desire to improve migration management and public service delivery.”

She assured the Dutch government that the equipment would be properly maintained and effectively utilised.

“Let these equipment serve not merely as a resource, but as a reminder of our responsibility to ensure that every traveller and every member of the public experiences professionalism, dignity and respect whenever they engage with the Nigeria Immigration Service,” she said.

The Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Abuja, Ronnald Sonnemans, praised the growing cooperation between both countries, saying he had witnessed the positive impact of the Hostmanship training on NIS officers over the years.

He reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Nigeria on migration issues and said the continuation of the mobile team project after its initial phase would further strengthen Nigeria’s border management capacity.

Also speaking, Senior Adviser at the Department for Agriculture and Forestry Services in the Agency of Dominions for Europe, Justice and Security, Jan-Willem Keuninck, said the two countries had maintained a close working relationship for 25 years.

He noted that the partnership had produced annual working visits, a Memorandum of Understanding on migration, and several capacity-building programmes.

Keuninck disclosed that several NIS officers had already been certified as Hostmanship trainers in the Netherlands and announced that a specialised training programme for senior NIS executives would commence in the Netherlands in September.

The NIS Hostmanship Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration Samson Thomas, described the donation as a symbol of trust and friendship between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

He said the Hostmanship Unit, established just over a year ago, had elevated service excellence as a core value within the immigration service and pledged to build on the Dutch support to institutionalise the culture across the organisation.