By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja — The Federal Government has stressed the importance of a unified communication strategy among ministries and government agencies as part of efforts to strengthen national security coordination and improve public understanding of government policies.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
Idris explained that stronger collaboration and consistent messaging among ministries and departments will improve coordination in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges confronting the country.
According to him, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation has begun engaging key ministries and agencies to better understand their activities and effectively communicate government initiatives to Nigerians.
He noted that the engagement is designed to ensure that public communication about government policies is coordinated and aligned across institutions.
“We believe it is important to interact with ministries directly, listen to them and align our communication so that we move in the same direction for the development of our country,” the minister said.
Idris also emphasized that effective communication of government policies is critical to strengthening public confidence and projecting Nigeria positively to the international community.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that Nigerians are properly informed about what the government is doing and how these policies impact national development,” he added.
The minister further highlighted the need for coordinated national messaging on security issues, stressing that government institutions must work together to ensure that accurate information reaches citizens and helps counter misinformation.
Responding, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said collaboration between both ministries is essential for effective dissemination of government policies, especially in areas related to citizenship, immigration management and national security.
He noted that the Ministry of Interior plays a critical role in maintaining citizenship integrity, while the Ministry of Information drives national orientation and public awareness.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted several reforms undertaken under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly within the Nigerian Immigration Service, including the clearance of passport backlogs and the introduction of contactless passport renewal services for Nigerians in the diaspora.
According to him, the government inherited a backlog of 204,332 passport applications in 2023 but cleared the entire backlog within two and a half weeks.
He also disclosed that the ministry has deployed technology-driven solutions to strengthen border security, modernize immigration processes and improve service delivery.
The Interior Minister further invited the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to undertake a tour of major reform projects and infrastructure developments across agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
These agencies include 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, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Director of Public Communication Barr. Henshaw Ogubike, Director of Public Relations and Protocol Dr. Suleiman Haruna, and other advisers and management staff.
