By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration and a unified communication framework among ministries and agencies to improve coordination in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Idris said improved interaction among government ministries and departments would strengthen coordinated responses to security threats such as terrorism and banditry.
He explained that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation had begun engaging key ministries and government agencies to better understand their operations and ensure Nigerians are adequately informed about government policies and programmes.
According to him, the engagements are aimed at aligning government communication strategies and ensuring ministries work together in delivering clear and consistent messages on national development initiatives.
The minister noted that the visit formed part of broader efforts to enhance collaboration among government institutions and improve public communication on the policies and reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He added that stronger cooperation between the Ministries of Information and Interior would help amplify ongoing reforms in areas such as immigration services, visa administration and internal security management.
Idris emphasised that effective communication of government policies is crucial for building public trust, improving citizens’ understanding of reforms and projecting Nigeria positively to the international community.
He also stressed the need for coordinated national messaging to ensure accurate information reaches the public and to counter misinformation.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s economic and governance reforms globally, noting that recent economic developments and international engagements have shown increasing global confidence in the country.
In his response, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the partnership between the two ministries as vital for effective communication of government policies and reforms, particularly in areas related to citizenship administration, immigration management and national security.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted several reforms implemented by the Ministry of Interior under the current administration, particularly within the Nigerian Immigration Service.
He said these reforms include clearing passport application backlogs, introducing contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora and deploying advanced technology to strengthen border management.
According to the minister, the current administration inherited a backlog of more than 200,000 passport applications in 2023, which he said was cleared within two and a half weeks.
He added that the ministry has continued to deploy technology-driven solutions to improve immigration services, strengthen border security and enhance service delivery for Nigerians at home and abroad.
Tunji-Ojo also invited officials of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to tour key reforms and infrastructure developments across agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Senior officials from both ministries attended the meeting, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, alongside directors and advisers from the two ministries.
