Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a significant administrative reshuffle, has appointed Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, AS Akinlabi, as the new Service Public Relations Officer, effective immediately.
This announcement was made by Dr. Adedotun Aridegbe, Principal Staff Officer to the Comptroller General, in a statement titled ‘New Spokesperson Appointed for Nigeria Immigration Service’ released on Wednesday.
The statement explained, “This appointment follows the posting of the immediate past Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Kenneth Udo, as Passport Control Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command as contained in the Senior Staff Posting Order released on January 31, 2025.”
Akinlabi, who hails from Ibarapa Central Local Government Area, Oyo State, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria and holds a BSc in Accounting from the University of Ilorin, along with a Master of Arts in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, obtained in 2003 and 2015 respectively.
Joining the NIS on December 29, 2006, Akinlabi completed his Superintendent Basic Course at Immigration Training School, Kano, in December 2007, and has since attended various specialized courses in migration, security, and border management.
His career trajectory within the Service includes a stint at the Service Headquarters starting in January 2008, where he worked across several Directorates, including Accounts and Finance, Protocol, Training and Staff Development, and Passport and other Travel Documents.
The statement further noted, “He was one of the pioneer Staff of the then newly established Nigeria Immigration Service Contact Centre, where he served and eventually became Second-in-Command (2 I/C) at the SERVICOM Unit which has direct operational nexus with public relations activities.”
Prior to this appointment, Akinlabi served as an Immigration Attache at the Embassy of Nigeria in The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands.