The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has unveiled an ambitious nationwide housing programme for its personnel, declaring that the newly commissioned estates in the Federal Capital Territory are only the beginning of a broader plan to deliver affordable home ownership to officers across the country.
The announcement came on Wednesday as the federal government commissioned the Nigeria Immigration Service Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society (NIMCOS) Housing Estate at Kutunku Extension, Gwagwalada, while simultaneously unveiling another housing development in Kuchiyako, Kuje Area Council.
The projects underscore what the Service described as a renewed commitment to staff welfare through strategic partnerships with private developers.
While commissioning the 150-unit estate, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the housing initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and reducing the financial burden faced by public servants.
He said decent housing would not only improve the quality of life of Immigration personnel but also boost morale, productivity and service delivery.
“This housing initiative reflects the federal government’s commitment to improving the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Immigration Service. By reducing the housing burden on personnel, we are also strengthening their capacity to deliver more efficient and effective service to the nation,” the minister stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, the deputy comptroller-general in charge of Visa and Residency, Dr. Franca Usiwoma Nwanneka, described the estates as a landmark investment in the wellbeing of officers.
She said quality housing remains one of the strongest pillars of staff welfare, providing security, stability and an environment that enables personnel to perform their duties effectively.
Dr. Nwanneka said the successful completion of the project in less than one year demonstrates what purposeful collaboration can achieve. She applauded the leadership of NIMCOS and its development partner for delivering the project.
Nwanneka, however, challenged beneficiaries to preserve the facilities, warning that the Service would not tolerate poor maintenance that could undermine the value of the estate.
She said: “Today’s commissioning is a clear demonstration of the Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel. Good housing provides security, promotes stability and enables officers to perform their duties more effectively.
“The successful completion of this project shows what can be achieved through purposeful collaboration. I commend the leadership of NIMCOS and our development partner for turning this vision into reality.”
Earlier, President of NIMCOS, Dr. Salihu Barau Dauda, described the development as a transformative milestone for the cooperative, saying the projects go beyond providing shelter to offering officers dignity, economic security and long-term financial stability.
According to him, the Kutunku estate comprises 150 modern two- and three-bedroom bungalows, while a larger 1,000-unit housing scheme has commenced in Kuchiyako, Kuje.
He revealed that the cooperative’s housing expansion is already extending beyond Abuja, with another phase underway in Minna, Niger State, while similar projects are being planned in other states where demand exists.
“Our vision does not stop in Abuja. We are determined to establish sustainable housing schemes across Nigeria so that, wherever our members serve, they can have access to decent and affordable homes,” Dauda said.
He noted that NIMCOS had previously facilitated housing opportunities for members in Dei-Dei, Abuja, through its partnership with Brains and Hammers and had continued to acquire land in strategic locations nationwide.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim Adoke, described the initiative as a model worthy of emulation by other paramilitary agencies, noting that access to home ownership gives officers peace of mind even before retirement.
The housing projects were delivered through a partnership between NIMCOS and Abiskoly Real Estate Developers as part of efforts to bridge the housing deficit among personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service and deepen staff welfare through cooperative-driven investments.
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