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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a further 18-month extension for the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche.
The extension will keep Nwakuche in office until May 26, 2028, while Nandap’s term will last until June 30, 2028.
The presidential approval was made known Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Advisor to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement announcing the decision. Project reports
According to Onanuga, the extension followed a recommendation by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and was intended to bridge a succession gap in the two agencies by giving their board of directors sufficient time to appoint successors.
Tinubu commended both security chiefs for the reforms recorded under their leadership and urged them to consolidate the gains made in their respective services.
The decision extends the guidance of two agencies central to Nigeria’s internal security architecture: the Immigration Service, which manages the country’s borders and migration processes, and the Correctional Service, which is responsible for the safe custody, reformation and rehabilitation of persons detained in correctional facilities.
The extension also gives both agencies more time to pursue ongoing reforms as the federal government continues to prioritize border security, migration management, custodial security and the administration of criminal justice.
Why Tinubu approved the extensions
The Presidency said the extensions were recommended by the Home Secretary to close a succession gap and allow the Civil Defence, Prison, Fire and Immigration Services Board to make arrangements for the appointment of successors.
The decision means that the two agency directors will remain in office beyond their previously scheduled mandate dates, ensuring continuity in the management of their respective institutions.
For the Immigration Service, the extension comes as Nigeria continues to modernize passport administration, strengthen border surveillance and use technology to improve the identification and tracking of international travellers.
For the prison service, this comes against a backdrop of persistent challenges involving overcrowding, large numbers of prisoners awaiting trial, prison security, prisoner welfare and the need to strengthen rehabilitation and non-custodial measures.
While the Presidency has not announced any new specific objectives alongside the extension, Tinubu’s directive for both officials to consolidate existing reforms places emphasis on continuity and results.
Nwakuche: from prison officer to head of the service
Nwakuche, born on November 26, 1966 in Oguta, Imo State, spent more than three decades in the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He joined the force in 1990 as an assistant superintendent of correctional facilities and rose through the ranks, holding several operational and administrative positions before his appointment as chief.
His academic qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts from the University of Calabar, a master’s degree in Political Science, with a specialization in International Relations, from the University of Lagos, and a diploma in French. He is also a member of the National Institute for Political and Strategic Studies, Kuru, and holds the national honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Prior to becoming Head of Service, Nwakuche served as Technical Assistant to the Presidency for Prison Services Matters and as Deputy Comptroller General responsible for staff training and development.
President Tinubu appointed him as Acting Comptroller General on December 15, 2024, following the retirement of Haliru Nababa. He was subsequently appointed Acting Controller General, with his mandate taking effect from April 23, 2025 and originally scheduled to end on November 27, 2026.
His leadership agenda has focused on improving safety, combating overcrowding, strengthening staff capacity, improving prisoner well-being, and expanding rehabilitation opportunities.
In February 2026, Nwakuche convened a high-level meeting involving prison authorities, parole boards and civil society stakeholders to harmonize procedures for the consideration and approval of parole recommendations.
The initiative was part of broader efforts to strengthen non-custodial measures and improve coordination of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
However, overcrowding remains a major challenge. Data presented during discussions on the service’s 2026 budget proposals showed that a substantial portion of the country’s prison population included pretrial detainees. The situation continues to put pressure on housing, food, healthcare and other essential services.
Extending Nwakuche’s mandate will therefore provide additional time to pursue reforms to improve prison conditions, strengthen security and make rehabilitation a more effective part of prison administration.
Nandap: A career immigration officer
Nandap, the 19th Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, also spent decades in public service.
She joined the NIS on October 9, 1989 and rose through the ranks for over three decades. His career has included assignments at immigration commands and headquarters, as well as responsibilities relating to migration management, border administration and travel documentation.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Jos and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja. He also undertook professional training in immigration administration.
Before becoming Comptroller General, Nandap served as Assistant Comptroller General and later as Deputy Comptroller General. She oversaw the Directorate of Migration and was involved in initiatives relating to human trafficking, migrant smuggling and international cooperation on migration.
She was also assigned to the Passports and Other Travel Documents Directorate prior to her appointment as head of the service.
Tinubu appointed her as Comptroller General in February 2024 and the Senate confirmed her appointment in March of the same year.
In March 2025, the President approved an early extension of her mandate until 31 December 2026. The latest approval therefore provides for a further 18 months beyond that date, keeping her in office until 30 June 2028.
Immigration reforms and border security
Under Nandap’s leadership, the Immigration Service has pursued reforms aimed at modernizing passport processing, strengthening border surveillance and improving the management of international travel.
Key initiatives have included the implementation of electronic border solutions, the expansion of automated immigration processes and the use of passenger information systems to support traveler screening.
The service has also pursued the implementation of electronic gates at airports and improvements in visa administration, with the broader goal of making legitimate travel more efficient while strengthening detection of irregular migration and security threats.
In July 2026, Nigeria completed the integration of its e-passport authentication system into the International Civil Aviation Organization’s public key directory. The development was aimed at making the verification of Nigerian e-passports at border control points internationally easier.
The service also worked with regional and international partners on migration governance, preventing migrant smuggling and improving the security of travel documents.
Despite these initiatives, border management remains a complex responsibility, given Nigeria’s extensive land borders, irregular migration routes, and challenges associated with human trafficking, smuggling, and document fraud.
Nandap’s extended mandate will give the service additional time to consolidate technological improvements, strengthen interagency cooperation and improve service delivery.
What the extensions mean for the two agencies
The decision to retain both officers provides continuity at a time when their agencies face substantial operational and institutional needs.
For the prison service, priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving the treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners, strengthening custodial security and expanding the use of non-custodial alternatives where legally appropriate.
For the Immigration Service, the focus includes modern border management, secure travel documentation, improved passport services and stronger systems for tracking cross-border movements.
The extensions also give the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Committee additional time to undertake the succession process, according to the Presidency’s explanation.
Tinubu’s praise for the service chiefs and his directive to consolidate existing reforms indicate that continuity and implementation will remain central to their responsibilities during the extended period.
Their continued leadership will however be measured by the results achieved, including improvements in public-facing services, operational effectiveness, accountability and the ability of both institutions to respond to evolving security challenges.
With Nwakuche now expected to serve until May 26, 2028 and Nandap until June 30, 2028, the Federal Government has given both agencies an extended period under their current leadership while succession preparations are made.
