Ministry of Interior
About
The Federal Ministry of the Interior is a ministry of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for providing complementary internal security and other ancillary services within Nigeria. It is headed by the Minister of Interior, a cabinet-level official who reports directly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The ministry formulates and implements policies on border management and supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service. Its other functions include granting Nigerian citizenship, providing consular and immigration services, issuing business permits and expatriate quotas, coordinating national and independence day celebrations, reforming and reintegrating inmates, protecting lives and property, managing national emergencies, recruiting officers for the paramilitary services, and managing retirement benefits for retirees of those services. The Civil Defence, Immigration, Prisons, Fire Service Board oversees the agencies under the ministry, which include the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
History
The concern to maintain internal security led to the creation of the federal ministry of internal affairs in 1957. The Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette of 6 December 1983 assigned the statutory roles to the ministry. In 2015, the Ministry of Internal Affairs merged with the Ministry of Police Affairs, resulting in the Ministry of the Interior.
Key Facts
Established
1957
Headquarters
Abuja
Minister of Interior
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Jurisdiction
Federal Government of Nigeria
Website
interior.gov.ng