The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (Resource Centre) has commended the Nigeria Immigration Service for its swift action over allegations of extortion along the Lagos–Seme border corridor.
It described the development as an important test of institutional accountability and public trust.
In a statement on Sunday signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the group particularly praised the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, for suspending officers accused of misconduct and ordering a full investigation into the allegations.
HEDA said the response signalled a willingness within the Service to confront corruption and abuse of office, noting that such decisive steps were necessary to restore confidence in border management operations.
“The decision to suspend officers and initiate an investigation is a welcome development.
“It sends a strong message that misconduct and abuse of office will not be tolerated,” the statement read.
The organisation, however, warned that disciplinary action alone would not be enough unless the probe was transparent, conclusive, and led to meaningful sanctions.
According to HEDA, “Nigerians have witnessed similar actions in the past that failed to yield concrete outcomes.
“It is therefore crucial that this investigation is not only thorough but also transparent, with periodic updates provided to the public.”
The group stressed that allegations of extortion at border points remained a serious challenge undermining Nigeria’s trade environment, discouraging lawful movement of goods and people, and weakening trust in security institutions.
HEDA, therefore, called on the NIS to ensure that the findings of the investigation were made public and that officers found culpable were appropriately punished in line with the law.
It further urged the Service to go beyond reactive measures by strengthening internal monitoring systems and building preventive accountability mechanisms that reduce opportunities for abuse.
Reaffirming its anti-corruption stance, HEDA said the current investigation presents an opportunity for the Immigration Service to set a new benchmark for integrity and transparency in border administration.
“We urge the NIS to ensure that justice is served and seen to be served,” Suraju added.
