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 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.
