The Federal Ministry of Interior has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to enhance public communication of government reforms and policies.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known while receiving the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo stressed the importance of coordinated communication in promoting transparency and ensuring that Nigerians are well informed about key government initiatives.
Highlighting reforms carried out under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister said the ministry had introduced several measures to improve passport services, border security and identity management.
He disclosed that the ministry cleared a backlog of more than 204,000 passport applications within two and a half weeks. He also noted that a contactless passport renewal system had been introduced for Nigerians in the diaspora.
According to him, Nigeria’s first centralised passport personalisation centre has also been established in Abuja to strengthen passport security.
Tunji-Ojo further revealed that Nigeria has joined the International Civil Aviation Organization Public Key Directory, a move that allowed Nigerian passports to be verified globally.
He added that Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems have been deployed to improve border security operations.
Other reforms, the minister said, include the introduction of electronic immigration gates at major airports, a digital visa system with a 48-hour processing timeline, and the expansion of the national identity database to more than 130 million Nigerians.
Tunji-Ojo noted that the reforms required stronger public awareness and called for deeper collaboration with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to ensure Nigerians are fully informed about the services available to them.
He also invited the information ministry to collaborate on a coordinated communication strategy and undertake a project tour of key facilities under the Ministry of Interior to showcase ongoing reforms.
In his remarks, Idris commended the interior minister for the reforms implemented across agencies under the ministry, describing the transformation within the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as remarkable.
He noted that aligning government messaging on security developments would help improve Nigeria’s global image, attract foreign investment and ensure that accurate information about the country’s progress is communicated internationally.
The minister also announced that Nigeria will host the World Public Relations Forum later this year in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
According to him, the event will bring communication professionals from around the world to Nigeria and is expected to further enhance the country’s global image.
Idris called on the Ministry of Interior to support the event through visa facilitation and protocol arrangements for international delegates.
Both ministers noted that the progress recorded in the last two and a half years reflects a strong commitment to institutional reform and improved service delivery, agreeing to deepen collaboration in strategic communication to ensure Nigeria’s governance reforms, security improvements and development initiatives are effectively communicated globally.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu and ensuring that the reforms translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
