..Why interior ministry is establishing citizenship integrity dept By Mohammed Mohammed The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said one of the major factors that contributed Nigeria’s security challenges had been the issue of the nation’s porous borders. This, he said has significantly led to the twin problem of proliferation of small arms and ammunition in the country as well as the free entry of illegal immigrants, many of whom constituted security threats to the nation. Towards delivering on its mandate, Minster hinted that the ministry has commenced the process of establishing the department of citizens integrity and dignity. He therefore called on the top management staff of the ministry and its paramilitary agencies to ensure the promotion of citizenship integrity in line with its mandate. The minister made the disclosure week end in Ilesha, Osun State, at a two-day ministerial strategy retreat organized by the ministry for its management staff and top functionaries of its agencies towards achieving President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate on internal security. According to him, a thorough analysis of an aspect of the ministry’s mandate that deals with promotion of citizenship integrity would widen and deepen the understanding of staff towards their responsibility to the citizens and foreign nationals resident in the country, stressing that this will enable them to provide efficient services as required. “Promoting citizenship integrity has bearing on efficiency, high ethical and moral conduct, responsiveness, commitment, patriotism, compliance with rules and regulations and pro-activeness in the discharge of our duties.” the minister stressed. He added that promoting citizenship integrity also means treating them with dignity and guaranteeing their safety and security. Mr. Mohammed Manga, Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, in a statement made available to the media, said the retreat with title: ‘driving performance in achieving the presidential mandate on Nigeria’s internal security’, affords the staff the opportunity to deeply reflect on their individual mandates for a clearer understanding of the demands on them to render effective service delivery towards ensuring citizenship integrity and internal security across the country. Aregbesola, noted that the focus of the present administration since 2015 is rested on the tripod of addressing internal security, revitalizing the economy and growing the economy, while tackling corruption. According to the minister, the onus therefore, rests on the ministry as the organ of government, responsible for fostering and ensuring the maintenance of security and citizenship integrity to deliver on its mandate, in order to validate the raise d’etre of government which is the security and welfare of Nigerians. He said the ministry has already commenced the process of establishing the department of citizens integrity and dignity in order to achieve its mandate. He said that the purpose of the strategy retreat is to provide a congenial environment to brainstorm on the ways and means of upscaling the strategic actions needed to be deployed to ensure the internal security and public safety of the citizenry, while driving performance to achieve the strategic objectives of government which is, of forging the path towards effective compliance with Mr. President’s charge on Nigeria’s internal security. He said: “One of the major factors that contributed to security challenges in the country had been the issue of the nation’s porous borders which significantly led to the twin problem of proliferation of small arms and ammunition in the country as well as the free entry of illegal immigrants, many of whom constituted security threats to the nation.” The recent implementation of the policy of partial closure of the nation’s land borders by government, Aregbesola, said, is aimed at addressing this challenge and has greatly contributed to the current level of peace and security being experienced in the country, adding that the retreat provides the platform to brainstorm and articulate other policies and strategies that would further address the problem of insecurity in the country. “With the enormous task ahead of us, we must all put our thinking caps and articulate strategies that would promote collaboration, and create the necessary synergy that would guarantee a safe and secure internal environment in our country. The task demands clear and deeper understanding of the mandate of the Ministry and its Paramilitary Agencies as well as the Board. “Our understanding and appreciation of these responsibilities will to a very large extent determine how far and how well we deliver on our individual mandates which all contributes to internal security and safety in the country.” Aregbesola emphasized. The Permanent Secretary, Barr. Georgina Ehuriah, in a remark, said the retreat was aimed at securing the alignment of the roles of the ministry and its agencies towards achieving the president’s mandate on internal security. She assured that the management of the ministry and its agencies will continue to provide the necessary support required towards achieving all the deliverables assigned the minister by the president towards ensuring a reversal of the current security challenges in the country, so as to provide a safe haven for investors, thus attracting inflow of direct foreign.