.Tasks paramilitary agencies on national security, human rights

To checkmate crimes and criminality within the nation’s borders, the Federal Government has fully integrated the Command and Control Centre of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) with the International Police (Interpol) and other global security outfits.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this while inducting 123 NIS officers into the facility for border control, security and governance, yesterday, in Abuja.

Assisted by the service’s Comptroller-General, Mrs Kemi Nandap, the minister said the infrastructure and facilities inside the centre have been fully linked with Interpol and other security outfits across the globe for pre-profiling of passengers and pick up persons of interest anywhere they may be.

Nandap said the induction was historic for the agency, as officers, who scaled through the first stage of training, would move to the next stage, which involves data analysis and travel plans.

The CGIS observed that the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) would enable the agency to gather data from different sources to track down persons of interest and checkmate possible threats against Nigeria.

Also, the government has called on paramilitary agencies to step up efforts at ensuring internal security for peace and national growth.

The minister appealed for the opening of a two-day Performance Contract Signing retreat, themed ‘United Front for a Secure Nation and Future’, yesterday in Abuja.

He said: “The critical role that the Federal Ministry of Interior has to play in the aspect of our internal security is very key.

“Every little effort from each one of you is important because without security, you can’t talk about investment, without security, you can’t talk about tourism, industrialisation, you can talk about stabilisation of the capital or money market, or even employment, so it means that there is no productivity without security.”

Tunji-Ojo charged security personnel and staff of the ministry to ensure they align their priorities with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda, by managing their reputation effectively.

Citing the recent crisis rocking the Nigerian Correctional Service concerning popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye (popularly known as Bobrisky), the minister warned that he would not defend any of the agencies on issues of reputational management, hence they must manage their reputation well.

He continued: “You all have a critical role to play in the national security architecture. Therefore, this is the time to be very bold, to be very audacious but tenacious if we must take Nigeria to the next level.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service has to be a place where hopes are renewed and not a place where hopes are truncated, and we treat people with dignity. This is very key.”

Tunji-Ojo also noted recent reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), including passports and border security reforms, adding that more has to be done to further secure the nation’s borders.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, explained that the retreat was an opportunity for staff and agencies to “renew our shared sense of duty and commitment to the core mandate of the ministry, fostering an environment where every Nigerian can feel safe, protected and empowered.”

“Today’s gathering is more than a contract signing ceremony, it is a covenant of accountability and a promise to deliver on Mr President’s renewed hope agenda,” she added.