Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that the Federal Government has successfully cleared over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and settled ₦28 billion in inherited debts — all without receiving additional budgetary funding.
Tunji-Ojo made the announcement on Monday during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series in Lagos, where he spoke on the theme: “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate.”
“Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur,” the minister stated.
“And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?”
Smart Reforms and Technological Innovation
According to Tunji-Ojo, the Ministry of Interior embraced innovation, technology, and strategic planning to resolve the passport crisis and settle mounting liabilities.
New systems introduced include:
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E-visa platforms
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Contactless passport renewals for Nigerians in the diaspora
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Advanced passenger tracking technologies
These changes, he noted, have significantly improved service delivery across Nigerian immigration and border control systems.
Overcrowded Prisons and the Push for Justice Reform
The minister also addressed the poor state of Nigeria’s correctional facilities, revealing that over 4,000 inmates are currently incarcerated simply because they cannot pay minor fines — some as low as ₦50,000.
He emphasized the need for reform in the correctional system, calling for more humane and economically viable approaches to handling minor offenders.
Call for Bold, Purpose-Driven Leadership
Throughout his speech, Tunji-Ojo stressed the importance of proactive leadership, urging young Nigerians and public servants to embrace vision-driven innovation and long-term thinking.
His reforms in the Ministry of Interior have earned public praise, especially for tackling passport backlogs and restoring confidence in the immigration system.
