Federal Ministry of Interior (Nigeria)

Ministry of Interior
Agency overview
Formed 1957
Type Executive Department
Jurisdiction Federal Government of Nigeria
Headquarters Abuja
Minister responsible
Parent department Government of Nigeria
Child agencies
  • Nigerian Correctional Service
  • Nigeria Immigration Service
  • Federal Fire Service
  • Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
Key document
Website https://interior.gov.ng/

The Federal Ministry of the Interior is a Ministry of the Federal Government of Nigeria tasked with providing complementary internal security and other ancillary services within Nigeria. The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Interior, a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The current minister of interior is Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

History

The concern to maintain internal security gave rise to the creation of the federal ministry of internal affairs in 1957. In 2007, the Ministry of Internal Affairs merged with the Ministry of Police Affairs, resulting in the Ministry of the Interior.

Agencies

The Ministry exercises supervisory control over the following Security Agencies, namely:

Functions

The Ministry formulates and implements policies related to border management and supervises the National Immigration Service. Its other functions include:

  • Granting of Nigerian citizenship
  • Consular and immigration services
  • Granting of business permits and expatriate quotas
  • Co-ordination of national and independence day celebrations
  • Reformation and re-integration of inmates
  • Security of lives and properties
  • Management of National emergencies;
  • Recruitment of officers and men of the Correctional Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
  • Managing the retirement benefits of retirees of paramilitary Services under its supervision.

List of ministers

Name Term
Bello Maitama Yusuf* 1979–1983
Bagudu Mamman* 1990–1991
Bashir Dalhatu 1997–1998
Sunday Afolabi 1999–2000
Mohammed Shata 2000–2003
Iyorchia Ayu 2003–2005
Magaji Muhammed 2005–2006
Oluyemi Adeniji 2006–2007
Godwin Abbe 2007–2009
Shettima Mustapha 2009–2010
Emmanuel Iheanacho 2010–2011
Patrick Abba Moro 2011–2015
Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau 2015–2019
Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola 2019–2023
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo 2023–present

*Minister of Internal Affairs