Interior Ministry to Partner NIPR on Perception Management

Interior Ministry to Partner NIPR on Perception Management

The Minister of Interior  Ogbeni Rauf  Aregbesola, has  solicited for understanding and cooperation of Nigerians in the current war against insecurity by the Federal Government.

Ogbeni Aregbesola made the plea on Tuesday 2nd August 2022 while receiving a delegation of the Executive members of the Nigeria Institute  of Public  Relations (NIPR) in his Abuja Office, led by its President, Mallam Sirajo Muktar.

The Minister who assured Nigerians  that everything is being done to curtail insurgency and other security challenges wanted Nigerians to know that it is because the insurgents in the North East are seriously  being dealt with and their perceived visibility being severely degraded that  some of their escapees are  running to other places; but assured that the Federal Government is bent on taking necessary steps to arrest the situation.

He therefore appealed for cooperation in terms of reporting any information capable of jeopardizing citizens’ wellbeing or breach of peace to the nearest security agencies around them.

“Don’t keep any secret information about security to yourself , report to the nearby security agencies, ” he charged.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola also used the occasion to announce the intention of the Federal Government to bring sanity to the issuance and renewal of passport and his Ministry’s determination to eliminate corruption associated with obtaining the travelling document.

According to him citizens should visit the Immigration Service Portal to register online for issuance of passport. The process, the Minister said, is not only seamless while the online application under the new scheme is geared towards enhancing transparency and corruption elimination.

He equally warned members of the public to stop patronising touts or uniformed officers in processing their passports  because their actions are illegal, unwarranted as they are only interested in making money out of the people.

On measures being taken to fast track passport procurement, he assured that more Data capturing Centres will be opened across the six Geo-political zones of the country to ease the difficulties being faced during the processing of e-passport.

As part of concerted effort of the Federal Government to secure the lives and property of Nigerians and ensure positive  public  perception  of its activities, Ogbeni Aregbesola also expressed  the readiness of his Ministry to partner with relevant stakeholders, including the NIPR, in sensitsing the public and channelling their energies towards national development.

He hinted that specific areas of collaboration would include training of officers and men of the Ministry and its Agencies  on effective communication, Public Relations and prompt reportage of the Ministry’s activities to the general public to sustain its positive image.

The Minister also urged the Institute to step up it’s plate and play a frontline role in information  disemination and promoting  positive  narratives on government’s efforts. He is of the opinion thst the NIPR is most suitable for a prominent role in balanced information, interactive and perception management and developmental information, which are dearly needed at this critical time of the nations development; especially now that our country is faced with serious security challenges which will  be better solved through news that inspire and unite us as one nation with one destiny

“The role of your Institute on  national development through rapid promotion and development of perception, as well as  management of communication cannot be overemphasized,” Aregbesola added.

Earlier, President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mallam Sirajo Muktar has stated that the association was in the  Ministry to seek collaboration and partnership in view of the revolutionary changes and giant strides being made by present administration through the Ministry and its agencies.

He commended the Minister and his team for their gallant efforts at addressing the current  security threats in  the country.

Afonja Ajibola
DD (Press &PR)
August 3, 2022.