INTERIOR MINISTRY PARTNERS HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION MINISTRY

Hon. Tunji-Ojo explaining a point to Dr. Betta Edu

"It is in such collaboration via formation of the joint committee by the Ministries that the laudable objective anchored in Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be better achieved." Tunji-Ojo

Honourable Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu has agreed to partner in order to reduce poverty in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, a joint Inter- ministerial Committee has been set up.

The Minister of Interior, Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo while explaining that the two Ministries have semblance on their mandate, believes that it is in such collaboration via formation of the joint committee by the Ministries that the laudable objective anchored in Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be better achieved.

The revelation for the partnership was made on Tuesday when the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo played host to his counterpart at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, during a courtesy visit to his office.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo appreciated the Humanitarian Affairs Minister for broadening the mandate of the Ministry to cover vulnerable ex-service men of the Services under the supervision of the Ministry and inmates of Correctional Facilitiies

While commenting on the excitement of Nigerians in diaspora as shared by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo reiterated that Nigerians must not be relegated from being citizens of Nigeria by denying them a passport.

In a statement issued and signed by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Department of Interior Affairs Ministry, Mr. Afonja Ajibola Fatai, the Honourable Minister reiterated his belief that "we must get it right now."

Hon. Tunji-Ojo disclosed that he receives updates every morning; saying that, "this very morning, I was briefed that about 55,500 thousand passports has been cleared, out of the two hundred thousand passports backlog he instructed to be cleared in two weeks."

He then assured that by the time the backlogs are cleared, Nigerians will start enjoying efficient service of  having their passports issued within two weeks upon application. 

Earlier, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu appluaded the Minister of Interior for taking his work head-on; saying her Ministry's mandate has been expanded to cover more Nigerians, that about 16 million Nigerians are susceptible to insecurity leading to their displacement, thereby causing humanitarian crises. 

She also said her Ministry is ready to intervene in the provision of soft loan to the Widows of deceased NSCDC, Correctional Officers, Men and Officers of Nigeria Immigration Service and officers Fire Service officers. 

According to her, inmates of Correctinal facilities will start enjoying similar intervention through skills acquisition programmes.

She however said that since the Federal Fire Service is an agency under the Supervision of the Ministry (Interior) that also responds to disaster, her attention will also be given in that direction; while NSCDC's role in security intelligence will also be activated as part of  the joint partnership.

Dignitaries in attendance are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, Directors in the Ministry, CGs of Agencies, DG NAPTIP, Directors of Humanitarian Affairs Ministry and the Minister's aides.