The Ministry of Interior has reiterated its commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Poland in the areas of immigration management, border control, internal security, correctional services, and emergency response systems.
The assurance was given during a courtesy visit by the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Michal Cygan, alongside the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Maciej Klosak.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to deepen collaboration and exchange institutional experiences. He noted that learning from countries that have previously navigated similar reform paths would enable Nigeria to mirror tested processes while avoiding potential pitfalls.
“It shows that perhaps you have walked the path that we are walking now, so we can mirror your processes and avoid your pitfalls,” the Minister stated. “We are grateful for your visit and for the openness to collaborate.”
The Minister emphasized the importance of practical engagement, including study visits and technical exchanges, to explore solutions in key operational areas such as immigration and border control systems, internal security mechanisms including civil defence structures, correctional services administration, and emergency response and firefighting solutions.
According to a statement by the Head, Press & Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Mrs Mary Ali, there are significant opportunities for knowledge transfer, institutional strengthening, and technical cooperation across these sectors. She noted that the Minister proposed the urgent arrangement of a structured engagement involving the Ministry and the Embassy to identify priority areas for collaboration and leverage existing expertise.
“We need to arrange this as soon as possible,” the Minister noted, adding that the Ministry of Interior is prepared to explore areas of shared interest, assess potential high-risk challenges, and develop frameworks for sustainable cooperation.
In his remarks, Ambassador Cygan highlighted reforms and innovations implemented within Polish institutions over the past year, expressing readiness to share insights and best practices.
“This is not a distant historical experience for us,” the Ambassador noted. “It is the lived experience of our generation. We understand the value of hard work, the demands of development, economic reform, institutional growth and the challenges that accompany rapid growth.”
Both parties agreed that enhanced collaboration would contribute to stronger institutional capacity, improved internal security architecture, and more effective service delivery to citizens.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing bilateral engagement in the spirit of mutual benefit and strategic partnership.
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