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Nigeria Ministry of Internal Affairs
The public security functions of the Ministry of
Internal
Affairs included passport and immigration control, prison
administration, fire service, and oversight of compliance
with
certain commercial and civic regulations. Immigration
control was
regarded as important and such steps as expulsions,
expanded
border controls, and acquisition of surveillance and
communications equipment, and of weapons for immigration
officers
had been taken to enforce immigration laws. Immigration
offices
training schools were located in Kano, in Lagos, and at
state
headquarters. In 1983 the main ministry staff consisted of
about
5,300 persons; the Immigration Department employed about
2,900,
the Fire Service Department 900, and the Nigerian Prisons
Service
23,000. In August 1988, the authority to arrest and detain
suspects without trial, formerly assigned to the chief of
General
Staff and to the inspector general of police, was extended
to the
Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry also had a
paramilitary Security and Civil Defence Force, whose size,
mission, and organization were unknown. In August 1989, it
was
announced that this unit was to be reorganized.
Data as of June 1991
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