NGO lauds interior minister for improved internal security

Tunji-Ojo

Published By: Paul Dada

By Joan Nwagwu

Mandate Defenders, a Non-Governmental Organisation( NGO) has commended Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior for his effort in transforming the activities of the ministry and improving Nigeria’s internal security.

Mr Danielson Akpan, National Convener of the group, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Mandate Defenders is an NGO that focuses on promoting youth empowerment, quality education and good governance.

Akpan said the group had followed the development in several sectors of the the government and, also the efforts of the interior minister.

According to him, we, at the group views Tunji-Ojo as the star boy of the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration.

“As already reported in several media houses, the minister has not only lived up to expectations, he has proven beyond reasonable doubt that his desires for change is immeasurable.

“The Mandate Defenders has identified several areas where he has shown his capacity, and this is not meant to launder his image.

“We believe that in service to the country, he has selflessly turned around the fortunes of the interior ministry and maintained homeland security,”he said.

He said that the new vibrancy among the agencies under the purview of the minister attested to his indelible commitment to working for the betterment of the people.

He cited the example of the
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), where 4, 508 personnels have been promoted to new ranks for efficiency.

“Also, there was the clearance of over 220,000 passport backlogs in in less than one month,” he said.

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“We acknowledge the efforts of the minister for redesigning the passport enrolment portal to become a seamless and automated system where every citizen has an NIS office on the go in their mobile phone.

“The minister constituted a committee to redesign visa enrolment process for short-stay visitors in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This is to open up the country for tourism, and foreign investment, and it is highly commendable,”he said.

On securing Nigeria’s borders, Akpan said that the minister’ commissioned and deployed 30 new patrol vehicles in his desire to maintain homeland security.

He also commended Tunji-Ojo for the installation of e-Gate facilities as border security measures across to international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano.

He commended the strengthening of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the Promotion of 21, 385 personnel in service to new ranks in 2023.

“One of our observation for commending the minister on maintaining homeland security is the establishment of Power Rangers to protect power infrastructures nationwide.

“There is also the deployment of mining marshals to reduce vandalism across the country’s mining sites.

“The minister is internal and homeland security personified, with the promotion of 1, 680 Federal Fire Service (FFS) personnel to new ranks.

“This is also coupled with strategic effort to reduce the emergency response time of the Service to below 15 minutes across the country ” he said.

(NAN)