(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Abba-Moro1-300x262.jpg) The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro has listed the introduction of policy initiatives such as automation of expatriate quota administration, new visa policy, e-passport intervention, border management, automatic fire alert system and national fire safety code as positive strides of the Ministry of Interior.
While taking his turn on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at the ongoing 2013 Ministerial Platform holding at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja, Abba Moro said that the recruitment of officers and men into the Nigerian Prisons Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been done to intensify internal security in the country.
The Minister also counted the drafting of the National Fire Safety Code by the Federal Fire Service and the development of e-Prison as some of the reforms being undertaken by his Ministry. He said, jail breaks and attacks on prison officers have become a hydra headed monster to the security of the prisons. The new initiative of e-Prison, he said, is to boost prison surveillance and security through the Prisons Information Management System and collaboration with ECOWAS on border control and surveillance"; the Minister said.
He added other achievements in the form of a block of building to house 136 inmates has been completed at the Aba prison; a block to accommodate 212 inmates completed in the Kano central prison as well as training of armed squad, e-Prisons surveillance, reduction in the number of awaiting trial inmates and increase in prison accommodation embarked upon as measures for strengthening prisons administration.
While speaking on intervention in emergencies, Abba Moro noted that presently the Federal Fire Service as a first responder to emergencies of fire and natural disasters carries out its operations only in Abuja and Lagos and has responded to 470 cases from May, 2012. He added that disaster management teams have been established in all the 22 airports across the country by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Abba Moro explained that security services under the supervision of his Ministry have been co-opted into the operations of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta Region, Borno, Yobe and Plateau States; saying Prison Officers are currently participating in the peace keeping operations in South Sudan, Liberia, Congo and Darfur.
The Interior Minister revealed that the Ministry has computerized and networked its facilities, completed the first phase of the State Comptrollers Flag Houses for Nigeria Immigration Service in Abia, Benue, Kebbi and Kogi States and constructed Command office complexes for them in Abia, Imo and Kebbi States to provide accommodation for staff.
He told his audience that the Ministry monitored and evaluated projects and programmes across the country and constructed State Command Headquarters in Birnin-Kebbi in Kebbi State.
The Minister's words, "Accommodation facilities have been provided for officers and men of the Nigeria Prison Service and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps. The Nigeria Immigration Service has decongested existing passport acquisition centers and commissioned a Passport Complex Annex in its headquarters in Abuja. It has also built 18 blocks of one bedroom flats in Sauka, Abuja for its junior staff"; he revealed.
The Minister also mentioned the creation of access roads and drainages to provide easy movement for officers and men of Nigeria Immigration Service.
Print PDF
Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria