Ministry of Interior

What Ministry of Interior does

The Ministry of Interior is a federal government ministry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, established in 2015 through the merger of the former Ministry of Internal Affairs with another ministry. It is headquartered in Abuja and operates under the executive branch of the Federal Government. The Ministry is the central coordinating authority for internal security, immigration management, correctional services, fire services, and civil defense, and exercises direct policy oversight over four paramilitary agencies: the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Fire Service (FFS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). It also supervises the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDFIPB), which manages recruitment across the paramilitary agencies.

The Ministry's service portfolio includes passport issuance and renewal, visa policy and processing, business permit administration, expatriate quota management, citizenship and naturalization, marriage certification, and public holiday declarations. These services are delivered through a hybrid of physical government offices, agency field locations across Nigeria's 36 states, and digital portals including the Nigeria Immigration Online Services portal, the Citizenship and Business e-Services portal (candb.interior.gov.ng), and the INTERAS communication platform. Core technology infrastructure includes a centralized passport personalization centre in Abuja, electronic immigration gates at major airports, Advanced Passenger Information and PNR systems at borders, ICAO Public Key Directory integration for global passport verification, and a National Identity database expanded to cover over 130 million Nigerians. The NCoS operates 256 correctional facilities supported by 18 farm centres and 10 cottage industries for inmate rehabilitation.

The Ministry is funded primarily through annual federal budget appropriations, supplemented by fee-based revenue from passport issuance, visa processing, business permits, expatriate quotas, and citizenship certificates. It serves Nigerian citizens, foreign and local businesses operating in Nigeria, foreign nationals seeking Nigerian citizenship or residency, and couples and religious institutions requiring marriage certification. Strategic direction is led by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, supported by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and a directorate including Reform Coordination, Human Resources, and Press and Public Relations. The Ministry pursues bilateral cooperation agreements with multiple governments (UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Poland, India, Netherlands) on migration, border security, and visa facilitation, and engages civil society and private-sector partners on correctional reform.

Name

Ministry of Interior

Legal name

Ministry of Interior

Website

https://interior.gov.ng

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Interior is Nigeria's federal ministry overseeing internal security, immigration, correctional services, fire services, and civil defense. It issues passports, visas, citizenship certificates, and business permits to Nigerian citizens, foreign businesses, and foreign nationals through nationwide offices and digital portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Public Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Office / Cabinet Secretariat (BPAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigration, Citizenship & Border Administration (Civil) (BPAIAAAN), Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals) (BPAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Government immigration services
• Passport issuance services
• Citizenship administration
• Internal security coordination
• Border management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Ministry is funded through annual federal government budget appropriations. Revenue generation comes from fees for services including passport issuance, visa processing, business permits, expatriate quotas, and citizenship certificates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Interior is a federal government ministry of Nigeria that provides internal security coordination and citizen services including passport issuance, visa processing, business permits, expatriate quotas, citizenship administration, and marriage certification. It oversees four paramilitary agencies (Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) responsible for correctional services, immigration, fire emergency response, and civil defence. Services are delivered through headquarters offices, nationwide agency field locations, and digital e-service portals.

Product overview

Ministry of Interior operates as a Nigerian federal government ministry providing e-government services and internal security coordination. The portfolio consists of multiple online platforms and systems including the Nigeria Immigration Online Services portal for passport and visa processing, the Citizenship and Business Department services for business permits and expatriate quotas, the Citizenship Administration and Management System for citizenship applications, and the new interas communication platform for digital correspondence. Additional services include the Visa Policy information portal, the Ministry's Projects tracking system, Public Holidays declarations, and the Wanted Persons registry. These services are delivered through interconnected web portals (candb.interior.gov.ng, portal.immigration.gov.ng, interas.interior.gov.ng) serving Nigerian citizens, foreign businesses, and government agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nigeria Immigration Online Services Online portal for Nigerian passport applications, ECOWAS Travel Certificate, Temporary Work Permit (TWP), CERPAC, and Nigerian visa services, serving Nigerian citizens and foreign nationals.
• Business Permit System Platform for applying and managing business permits ensuring legal operation in Nigeria for local and foreign businesses.
• Expatriate Quota System System for managing expatriate work permits, enabling foreign companies to hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria's immigration laws.
• Citizenship Administration and Management System Streamlined online platform for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related processes, serving foreign nationals seeking Nigerian citizenship.
• Ministry Communication Platform (INTERAS) Digital communication platform enabling external users to create accounts, send official mail to Ministry offices (Honorable Minister, Permanent Secretary), and manage communications digitally.
• Visa Policy Nigeria's visa policy providing requirements and guidelines for business visa applications for frequent travelers and top management staff.
• Public Holidays Declaration Service Official announcements of public holidays including Democracy Day, Eid celebrations, Christmas, Workers Day, and national commemorations.
• Wanted Persons Registry Public registry for wanted persons published by the Ministry of Interior.
• Contactless Passport Renewal System Digital system for Nigerians in the diaspora to renew passports without physical presence, enabling remote passport renewal services.
• Centralized Passport Personalization Centre Nigeria's first centralized passport personalization centre in Abuja, established to strengthen passport security.
• Digital Visa System and Electronic Immigration Gates Digital visa system with 48-hour processing for streamlined visa issuance, combined with electronic immigration gates (e-gates) at major airports for automated border crossing.
• Ministry's Projects Portfolio Ongoing and completed capital projects of the Ministry including computerization of headquarters/networking and State Comptrollers Flag Houses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cleared over 204,000 passport applications within two and a half weeks
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Republic of PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Deepened cooperation on security, trade, technology, and economic development following initial discussions. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski led delegation for expanded partnership.
• AFRIDEX (African International Defence Exhibition)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 April 2026Partnership for the African International Defence Exhibition 2026 scheduled for October 26-29, 2026 at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos. Ministry to support visa facilitation and security arrangements for anticipated 30,000+ international attendees and 500 exhibitors.
• Kingdom of Saudi ArabiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Bilateral partnership on security, technology, and emergency response. Deepening strategic relations through cooperation in security operations and emergency management systems.
• ECOWASminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Regional cooperation through participation in ECOWAS Regional Symposium on rule of law, human security, and gender-inclusive justice.
• United Kingdom (Government of)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Bilateral cooperation on migration management, border security, and business mobility. Three key agreements signed covering migration, border security, and business mobility. Partnership includes cooperation on criminal justice reform, visa facilitation, and intelligence sharing.
• HOPE Behind Bars AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Civil society organization collaborating with the Ministry to transform correctional facilities into rehabilitation and productivity hubs through PPPs. Focuses on expanding interventions across correctional facilities for skills acquisition and reintegration.
• Civil Society OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Stakeholder engagement on optimizing correctional farm centres, industries, and PPP pathways. Collective agreement on need for actionable, scalable, and sustainable models for correctional reform.
• Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PI-CNG)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Proposed collaboration on CNG adoption within Ministry operations and facilities. Formation of high-level committee to explore strategic collaboration opportunities.
• Federal Ministry of Information and National OrientationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Collaboration to improve public communication of government reforms and policies. Joint efforts to promote transparency and ensure Nigerians are well informed about Ministry initiatives. Plans for coordinated communication strategy and project tours of Ministry facilities.
• Republic of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Strategic partnership emphasizing sovereignty and mutual economic responsibility. Collaboration on security, trade, and economic development initiatives.
• Republic of PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Exploration of strategic partnership on immigration and internal security. Discussions on bilateral cooperation in border control, migration management, and security cooperation.
• Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Emergency management cooperation with state agency. Minister commended LASEMA's proactive approach and reaffirmed federal backing for emergency management growth.
• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Strategic partner providing technical expertise and support for capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening democratic governance, institutional capacity, and inter-agency cooperation. KAS collaborates with the Ministry on training programmes for security agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
• Kingdom of NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Cooperation on border security, migration management, and bilateral partnership. Deputy Director-General of Ministry of Asylum and Migration visited to strengthen cooperation.
• Turkey (Government of)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Bilateral partnership focusing on visa facilitation, business mobility, and consular matters. Turkish Ambassador highlighted improved visa processing for Nigerian businesspeople (3-4 days). Turkey requested inclusion in Nigeria's e-visa system. Partnership aims to strengthen people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.
• Junior Chamber International (JCI) NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2025Youth leadership organization with over 100,000 members across 30 states and FCT. Partnership focused on youth development, leadership engagement, and collaborative initiatives for national development. JCI operates in over 140 countries globally.
• Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Strategic partnership to strengthen collaboration and information sharing. Minister reaffirmed commitment to working with journalists for effective communication of Ministry activities.
• Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer association extending goodwill messages and support for Ministry's reform efforts in expatriate quota policy and business permit processes.
• Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory authority collaborating on expatriate quota reforms and business facilitation within free trade zones.
• Honeywell GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate organization applauding Ministry reforms and reaffirming commitment to national development. Partnership focuses on private sector collaboration for national development initiatives.
• Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement with women's sports organization. Minister received LGAN leadership and commended their role in national development.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• India Ministry of Home Affairs: India's federal interior ministry overseeing border management, immigration, citizenship, and internal security. Comparable in scale and federal structure to the Nigerian Ministry of Interior.
• Germany Federal Ministry of the Interior: German federal interior ministry handling immigration, border security, civil protection, and identity management — comparable functional scope and federal structure, with recognised leadership in digital identity.
• UK Home Office: Cabinet-level UK ministry responsible for immigration, passports, visas, border security, and policing — a direct functional analogue to Nigeria's Ministry of Interior in mandate and structure.
• Australia Department of Home Affairs: Australian federal department consolidating immigration, border control, citizenship, and internal security — direct mandate analogue with strong digital service delivery track record.
• Canada Ministry of Public Safety: Canadian federal ministry responsible for public safety, emergency management, border strategy, and corrections — direct peer in federal structure and mandate coverage.
• Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore's interior ministry coordinating immigration, citizenship, and civil defence — comparable functional mandate and an exemplar for digital government service delivery at scale.

Regional players

• South Africa Department of Home Affairs: Closest African counterpart with near-identical mandate (immigration, citizenship, civil registration). Operates in the same regional context, making it the most relevant peer for African benchmarks.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Broader U.S. federal cabinet department consolidating immigration (USCIS), border (CBP), emergency response (FEMA), and security agencies — overlapping but wider in scope than Nigeria's Ministry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MinOfInteriorNG
• Facebookfacebook.com/MinOfInteriorNG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minofinteriorng
• Instagraminstagram.com/minofinteriorng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Interior