Interior Ministry restates commitment to maintain internal security
Vin Oliji, Abuja
The Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has reaffirmed the Ministry of Interior’s commitment to maintain internal security and promote good governance in Nigeria through effective collaboration with relevant agencies.
The Minister reiterated that, the Ministry of Interior remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard national security and uphold governance standards with strong leadership and a commitment to teamwork, “the ministry is poised to drive meaningful change, ensuring efficiency and accountability across all its agencies.”
Tunji-Ojo, said this in Abuja when the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Adebowale Adedokun and his team paid him a courtesy visit, to set the stage for enhanced synergy with the Ministry.
The Minister explained that, the BPP should be the conscience of the government to prevent corruption in procurement processes.
He further explained that agencies under the Ministry of Interior oversee and safeguard critical national assets of the nation, while their officers sacrifice their all for Nigerians to sleep with their eyes closed.
The Minister disclosed that, the contactless passport renewal system will be launched on the 7th of February, 2025 in Europe to avoid the human interface, which brewed unnecessary corrupt practices in the system.
The Minister commended the Director General of BPP for his achievements since assumption of office, emphasizing the importance of self-appraisal in public service.
He advised the Director General of BPP to embrace technology in the operation of procurement processes for seamless procurement processes to ensure efficiency, proper evaluation and accountability.
The Minister noted that while no system is completely flawless, the Bureau has made notable progress, and he commended them for their efforts.
He highlighted the critical role of the BPP as the evaluator and monitor of public agencies, stressing the need for efficiency and timely procurement processes. He cautioned that if the BPP is perceived as a hindrance rather than a catalyst for performance, its mandate is undermined.
The Minister praised the BPP for its responsiveness to urgent issues, ensuring that standards are met without compromising efficiency.
The Minister also applauded the Bureau’s recent achievements, including a target turnaround time of 20 days for procurement processes. He urged the Bureau to continue its focus on e-procurement as a means of enhancing accountability and reducing corruption. Dr. Tunji-Ojo, reiterated the collaborative spirit necessary for nation-building, stating that building a nation is a joint task and that the Ministry of Interior is committed to partnering with the BPP to achieve this goal.
The Minister commended President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership and the belief he has in the youths to deliver his mandate to Nigerians.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General, BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to supporting the nation’s security efforts.
The Director General emphasized the importance of providing emergency attention to the security sector, given the current challenges facing the country.
He affirmed that the Bureau has made significant strides in recent weeks, reducing its turnaround time to 20 days Adedokun, assured the Minister of the Bureau working tirelessly to improve its operations, with a focus on accountability and transparency.
Adedokun also announced plans to go digital, introducing e-procurement to increase efficiency and reduce corruption adding that the Bureau has saved the government a significant amount of money, with 103 billion naira and 24 million US dollars saved in just five weeks. Adedokun attributed this to the Bureau’s price intelligence and due diligence efforts.
The Director General also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in procurement, citing their potential to save money and deliver good products. He expressed the Bureau’s commitment to championing women in procurement and ensuring that they have equal opportunities to participate in the process.
He thanked the President for the opportunity to lead the Bureau and assured him that he would not abuse the trust placed in him.
Adedokun called on Nigerians to provide feedback on areas where the Bureau can improve, stating that this will help them to better serve the nation.
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