Over two hundred thousand passport applications that were pending processing have been approved since Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo took office as Nigeria’s minister of interior.
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Additionally, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that N28 billion in outstanding bills have been paid off, all without receiving any additional assistance from the government.
During Monday’s Access Bank Guest Lecture Series in Lagos, he dropped these bombshells. During his speech titled “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” he emphasised the need for fearless leadership, systemic change, and strategic technology use.
To be a good leader, you need to be able to anticipate issues and find solutions before they even arise. And in order to do that, you need to constantly ask: Why are you here? What is your plan for putting it into action? And when should one take action?” he asked.
He continued by outlining the specific ways in which his ministry has eliminated passport debt and backlogs through the application of innovation, technology, and strategic planning.
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Modern passenger tracking, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians travelling overseas, and electronic visa platforms were all introduced during his tenure as director.
Tunji-Ojo stated that the Nigerian penal system is in a terrible state when discussing the country’s prisons.
He brought attention to the fact that over 4,000 people are incarcerated due to the fact that they are unable to pay penalties as low as N50,000.
“The issue at hand is one of morality, not law. According to him, a society has lost its moral compass if it punishes poverty more severely than crime.
Inmates should be encouraged to make amends rather than condemned. Justice disguised as dignity is really injustice.
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The head of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, spoke highly of Tunji-Ojo.
He exclaimed, “Innovation is not about big budgets; it is about big thinking.” He went on to say that the minister’s work exemplifies the ideal of public service.