By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration in the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparent, efficient public service delivery in Kano State.
This assurance was given when the Kano State Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of the ICPC, Ahmad Muhammad Wada, Esq., received the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kano Command, Tahir Ahmad Lawan, on a courtesy visit at the Commission’s Kano office on February 4, 2026.
The visit provided a platform for both agencies to review existing areas of cooperation and identify new pathways for partnership aimed at reinforcing integrity, accountability, and professionalism in public service.
Speaking during the engagement, Comptroller Tahir Ahmad Lawan explained that the primary objective of the visit was to deepen collaboration with the ICPC, particularly in areas that would help curb corruption and enhance operational efficiency within the NIS.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service has embarked on far-reaching modernisation and reform initiatives designed to improve service delivery and strengthen internal controls. These, he said, include the deployment of advanced technologies to enhance border security, the installation of automated border control gates, and the introduction of the Diaspora Passport Initiative, which streamlines passport renewal processes for Nigerians living abroad.
According to him, the adoption of technology is not only aimed at making services faster and more convenient for the public, but also at creating systems that can effectively detect, track, and deter corruption-prone practices within the Service.
Comptroller Lawan reiterated the NIS’s firm commitment to working closely with the ICPC to harmonise strategic objectives, ensure strict adherence to ethical and legal standards, and promote a culture of integrity across the Service. He noted that such cooperation would ultimately enhance organisational performance and strengthen public confidence in government institutions.
He also commended the work of the NIS Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), describing it as a critical internal mechanism for promoting accountability and ethical conduct. He added that the presence of a functional ACTU within the Service provides a strong foundation for productive external engagement with the ICPC.
In his response, Resident Commissioner Ahmad Muhammad Wada, Esq., welcomed the Comptroller and his delegation, describing the visit as timely and in line with the ICPC’s emphasis on inter-agency collaboration as a strategic tool for corruption prevention.
He stressed that prevention remains a core pillar of the Commission’s mandate, explaining that the ICPC adopts a proactive approach by conducting systematic studies and reviews of institutional processes to identify operational weaknesses and corruption-prone linkages.
Commissioner Wada noted that once such vulnerabilities are identified, the Commission works with the affected institutions to block them, thereby strengthening internal systems and creating more transparent and effective service delivery frameworks.
He assured the NIS Kano Command of the Commission’s full support in its anti-corruption efforts and expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between both agencies would yield tangible results in promoting integrity within the public sector.
As a demonstration of this commitment, Commissioner Wada presented information, education, and communication (IEC) materials from the Commission to the Comptroller, while Comptroller Lawan, in turn, presented an appreciation plaque to the ICPC Kano office.
The symbolic exchange of materials and souvenirs marked the culmination of the visit and underscored a shared resolve by the ICPC and the Nigeria Immigration Service to build a stronger, more coordinated front against corruption in Kano State and beyond.
