By Nkechi Eze
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as part of efforts to enhance transparency, effective communication, and public engagement on issues of internal security and citizenship integrity.
The Minister made this known while receiving the leadership of the NUJ during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja, where he described the Interior Ministry as “the Ministry of the people,” noting that its mandate directly affects every Nigerian.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mary Ali, Tunji-Ojo emphasised that the Ministry’s responsibilities, including citizenship administration, internal security, border management, and protection of national assets, require strong collaboration with the media to ensure public understanding and trust.
He underscored the indispensable role of the media in democratic governance, stressing that government institutions cannot function effectively without proper engagement with journalists.
“Where facts are not made available, assumptions take their place,” the Minister said, highlighting the importance of proactive information dissemination in shaping public perception and strengthening confidence in public institutions.
Tunji-Ojo described the relationship between the Ministry and the media as a strategic partnership rooted in accountability, transparency, and national interest, and welcomed the NUJ’s proposal for structured engagements, including regular press briefings and periodic interface sessions.
He noted that consistent communication would enable Nigerians to better understand ongoing reforms, innovations, and policy directions within agencies under the Ministry.
While commending the media for its balanced reportage of the Ministry’s activities, the Minister also acknowledged the importance of constructive criticism, stating that responsible journalism contributes significantly to policy refinement, institutional improvement, and good governance.
Earlier, the National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahaya, who was accompanied by members of the Union’s National Executive Council and FCT Council, said the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional ties and expanding areas of collaboration.
Yahaya commended the Ministry’s reform initiatives in internal security and pledged the Union’s commitment to working with relevant government agencies to promote national security awareness through responsible journalism.
He also proposed the introduction of quarterly ministerial press briefings to provide Nigerians with direct updates on the Ministry’s programmes and reforms, and invited the Minister to address an upcoming National Executive Council meeting.
The NUJ President further sought collaboration with the Ministry in capacity building through its training institute, particularly in equipping journalists with deeper knowledge of security reporting, national interest considerations, and responsible information dissemination.
Both the Ministry and the NUJ agreed that sustained dialogue, regular engagement, and institutional cooperation were essential to strengthening public confidence, promoting national unity, and ensuring Nigerians remain well-informed about critical issues affecting internal security and governance.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to advancing collaboration in the overall interest of national development and public service.
