FG Moves to Align Government Messaging on National Security
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to harmonise official communication across ministries and agencies as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national security coordination and counter misinformation.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
Idris said the government was working toward developing a unified communication framework that would enhance coordination among security-related ministries and improve the dissemination of accurate information on the country’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
“The Federal Government believes that through interactions among ministries and departments of government, a strategic and unified communication framework can evolve that will boost the coordination of security actions in the fight against terrorism and banditry,” he said.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation has begun engaging with strategic ministries and agencies to better understand their operations and ensure Nigerians are properly informed about government initiatives and reforms.
He explained that the approach goes beyond routine press briefings, noting that direct engagement with ministries would enable the government to align communication strategies and ensure consistent messaging on key national issues.
“We felt that it was absolutely important for us not just to sit in our offices and wait for you to come to the press conference. We believe it is important to come, interact with ministries, hear them out and align our communication so that we move in the same direction for our country,” Idris said.
The minister added that the engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration among key institutions of government in communicating the policies and reforms of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted that improved communication would also help amplify ongoing reforms in the Ministry of Interior, particularly in areas relating to immigration services, visa processes and border management.
Idris emphasised that effective public communication is essential for building national confidence, countering misinformation and projecting Nigeria positively to the international community.
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“Our job is to ensure that whatever the administration does, Nigerians hear about it and understand it. Therefore, whatever you do here, our role is to help amplify it so that Nigerians and the international community understand the reforms taking place,” he said.
The minister further stressed the need for coordinated national messaging on security issues, noting that government institutions must work together to ensure accurate information reaches citizens.
“There is also the need for us to have greater collaboration on national security messaging. It is very critical that Nigeria has a single narrative on what is happening in the country and how the government is addressing the challenges,” he added.
Responding, Tunji-Ojo described the collaboration between the two ministries as crucial for effective dissemination of government policies, particularly those relating to citizenship, immigration management and national security.
He noted that while the Ministry of Interior oversees citizenship integrity and internal security institutions, the Ministry of Information plays a critical role in shaping national orientation and public awareness.
“Collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information is necessary and extremely important for appropriate information dissemination. The Ministry of Interior deals with citizenship matters and citizenship integrity, while you deal with national orientation,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo also highlighted key reforms introduced by the government in the immigration sector, including efforts to clear passport backlogs and modernise border management systems.
According to him, the administration of President Tinubu inherited a backlog of over 200,000 passport applications but was able to clear the backlog within two and a half weeks after assuming office in 2023.
“When Mr President came into office in 2023, we had a passport backlog of 204,332 applications. It took this administration only two and a half weeks to clear it, ensuring that Nigerians would no longer return to the era of passport scarcity,” he said.
The minister added that technology-driven solutions have also been introduced to enhance border security and improve immigration service delivery, including the rollout of contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora.
Tunji-Ojo further invited the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to undertake a project tour of key agencies under the Interior Ministry, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both ministries, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, as well as directors and advisers from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
