The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is asking for cooperation between the military and paramilitary organizations to strengthen national security efforts.
He believes there is a requirement to close the current differences between the military and the ministry.
While speaking during the visit of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in his office in Abuja on Thursday, the minister suggested seamless sharing of information and allocation of resources to effectively counter emerging threats.
This information was included in a statement released on Thursday by the minister’s Media Adviser, Babatunde Alao.
The statement mentioned, “Showing appreciation for the continuous support from the Armed Forces, Minister Tunji-Ojo highlighted the crucial role played by military personnel in supporting agencies under the ministry during various operations.
“Emphasizing important areas of cooperation, the Minister stressed the significance of training programs, especially for Nigeria immigration service personnel at border checkpoints, and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps responsible for safeguarding forested areas.”
However, he called for understanding to facilitate coordination and operational support between agencies under the ministry and the Nigerian military.
The statement added, “There are numerous responsibilities that I believe the details can be worked out in a Memorandum of Understanding between our agencies and the Nigerian military, covering equipment, training (which includes know-how), and other operational support.
“I want it to be your legacy, my legacy, and above all, the legacy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the military and the Nigeria Immigration Service were able to work together and protect our border in such a way that any internal threat can be contained internally.”
Musa commended Tunji-Ojo for his initiatives that have contributed to the ministry’s progress since taking office.
He restated the Armed Forces’ commitment to supporting the ministry in its mandate to enhance internal security, emphasizing the importance of unity between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior in addressing current security challenges.
“I want to assure you that the armed forces are fully with you. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior are the same.
“In the past, the Defence came in because we were fighting conventional warfare, mostly country to country, but now, the fight is within. We are fighting unknown actors – people you don’t know about. That makes it very critical. And, that’s why I want to assure you that we are going to collaborate with you,” he said.
