INTERIOR MINISTER CALLS FOR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IN ACHIEVING SECURITY FOR ALL.

“The onus therefore, rests on the Ministry of Interior as the organ of Government responsible for fostering and ensuring the maintenance of internal security, public safety and citizenship integrity, to deliver on its mandate, in order to validate the raison d’etre of government which is the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria”..... Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“the purpose of gathering top management staff of the Interior Ministry and its agencies responsible for the formulation and implementation of sectoral policies and programmes, as mandated by the administration, is to provide a congenial environment for all, to brainstorm on the ways and means of upscaling the strategic actions.

The Honourable Minister for Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has appealed to staff of the Ministry including parastatals and agencies under the supervision of the Interior Ministry to key into the gains of the recently concluded retreat, aimed at achieving positive returns on its mandate, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The retreat, with its theme: “Driving Performance In Achieving The Presidential Mandate On Nigeria’s Internal Security”, which held in Zenababe Hotels and Resorts, Illesa, Osun state, became necessary in the light of issues bordering on insecurity as witnessed in parts of Nigeria.

Issues of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, militancy, terrorism, insurgency, ethno-religious crises, farmers-herders clashes, vandalization of national assets, cultism, ritual killings, among others, had resulted to growing concerns, which required urgent redress.

The Federal Government, in its quest to provide lasting solutions and tackling the situation headlong, through the Interior Ministry, organized a retreat for its top management personnel where it could therefore, brainstorm and proffer solutions.

Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, in his inaugural address, stressed that the focus of the Buhari led Administration since coming to power in 2015, has rested on the tripod of addressing insecurity in the country, revitalizing and growing the economy, while tackling corruption.

“The onus therefore, rests on the Ministry of Interior as the organ of Government responsible for fostering and ensuring the maintenance of internal security, public safety and citizenship integrity, to deliver on its mandate, in order to validate the raison d’etre of government which is the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria”, he stated.

According to the Minister, “the purpose of gathering top management staff of the Interior Ministry and its agencies responsible for the formulation and implementation of sectoral policies and programmes, as mandated by the administration, is to provide a congenial environment for all, to brainstorm on the ways and means of upscaling the strategic actions.

“This necessary to ensure the internal security and public safety of the citizenry and guaranteeing citizens integrity, while driving performance to achieve the strategic objectives mandated by Mr. President”, he said.

Aregbesola noted the daunting task and onerous responsibility of forging the path towards effective compliance with Mr. President’s charge on Nigeria’s internal security, public safety and citizens’ integrity, saying that the one of the major factors that contributed to security challenges in the country had been the issue of the nation’s porous borders.

“This situation significantly led to the twin problem of proliferation of small arms and ammunition in the country as well as the free entry of illegal immigrants many of whom constituted security threats to the nation”.

Speaking on the recent implementation of the policy of partial closure of the nation’s land borders, the interior Minister commended the policy decision stating that it has greatly contributed to the current level of peace and security been experienced in the country but however, said more still needs to be done.

According to him, “this Retreat therefore, provides the necessary platform to brainstorm and articulate other policies, programmes and strategies that would further address the problem of insecurity in the country”.

“With the enormous task ahead of us, we must all put on our thinking caps and articulate strategies that would promote collaboration and create the necessary synergy that would guarantee our safety and security in our country. The task demands clear and deeper understanding of the mandates of the Ministry and its Para-military Agencies as well as the Board”, he appealed.

“Our understanding and appreciation of these responsibilities will to a very large extent determine how far and how well we deliver on our individual mandates which all contribute to internal security and safety in the country”, he stressed further.

“For instance, a thorough analysis of an aspect of the Ministry’s mandate that deals with promoting citizenship integrity, would widen and deepen our understanding of our responsibility to the citizens and foreign nationals resident in our great country”.

Explaining the ‘Promotion of Citizenship Integrity’ the Honourable Minister described “Citizenship” as a relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn, is entitled to its protection”.

“The sanctity of this relationship between the two parties is its integrity; Integrity requires citizens to obey the laws of the land, pay tax, be loyal and, if need be, stand up for the nation’s defence. The most important status of an individual to the government is of a citizen”.

He reiterated that the government is under obligation to defend the citizens, and confer certain rights on him or her and defend these rights with all resources at its disposal.

”The whole gamut of government services and indeed its raison d’etre, is in the service of the integrity of citizenship. Security of lives and property is at the heart of government’s obligations to the citizens”, he stressed.

“Promoting citizens’ integrity therefore, has a bearing on efficiency, high ethical and moral conduct, responsiveness, commitment, patriotism, compliance with rules and regulations and pro-activeness, to mention but a few in the discharge of our duties. Promoting citizenship integrity also means treating them with dignity and respecting their essential humanity. You will all agree that the demand of enhancing citizenship integrity cuts across our duties in the Ministry and the Agencies”.

“On a global spectrum, the countries that respect, enhance and promote the integrity and dignity of their citizens have the most loyal and proud citizens and are the leading nations of the world”, Aregbesola noted.

“It will be a good idea for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to dedicate a department to it. This would have gone beyond mere sloganeering to making real, a fine idea”.

Rauf Aregbesola commended his predecessors in office, the current leadership in the Ministry, the Board and the Para-military Agencies as well as the staff and personnel for the achievements attained over the years in delivering on the mandates of the Ministry and its Agencies.

Some of the highlight of the achievements of the Interior Ministry in the past years, according to him includes:

•On-line application and processing of Business Permit, Expatriate Quota Positions and Citizenship related facilities.

•The Enactment of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.

•The deployment of technology in border control and immigration management including Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) in some airports, land and sea borders.

•The establishment of Agro-Rangers Unit and protection of critical national assets.

•The acquisition of modern firefighting equipment and establishment of additional fire stations across the nation

•The successful recruitment of more personnel for the Services, the management of their career progression as well as promoting discipline in the Services.

He reminded that, as participants, “we are also to prioritize these activities and programmes in view of limited resources and competing demands for funds available to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)”.

He added that, the importance of technology and innovation in driving national development efforts must also be taken into consideration as it has undoubtedly, become imperative to think outside the box in our efforts at ensuring internal security and public safety of Nigerian citizens.

“Every participant to be creative in developing new ways and means of entrenching technology and innovation in the way we do things so as to achieve Mr. President’s Agenda as it relates to our mandate”.

He stressed that, “providing an environment of peace and tranquillity that this nation needs to achieve real growth and development, cannot be achieved without peace and security for the growth and development of any nation”.

Aregbesola expressed his profound gratitude to the Osun state Governor, Gboyega Oyetola and the good people of the State of Osun, for the warm reception while also thanking the Permanent Secretary, Dame Georgina E. Ehuriah, MON, the CGs of the para-military Services and management staff of the Ministry.