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.^[1] 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:

• Nigerian Correctional Service
• Nigeria Immigration Service
• Federal Fire Service
• Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
• The Civil Defence, Immigration, Prisons, Fire Service Board (CDFIPB)

Functions

The Ministry formulates and implements policies related to border management and supervises the National Immigration Service.^[2] 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

*Minister of Internal Affairs