How We Cleared 200,000 Passport Backlogs,Cleared N28bn Debt – Tunji-Ojo
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has explained how the ministry cleared over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and cleared old debts to the tune of N28 billion.
The minister, who spoke during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series held in Lagos on Monday, revealed that the backlogs and the debts were cleared without extra funding from the government.
Speaking on the topic “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” called for bold leadership, system reform, and the smart use of technology.
According to him, leadership is not about reacting to problems, but about foreseeing and solving them before they occur. “And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?” he said.
He revealed that new systems like e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, and advanced passenger tracking have been launched.
Speaking about Nigeria’s prisons, Tunji-Ojo said the correctional system is in bad shape. He pointed out that more than 4,000 inmates are behind bars simply because they can’t pay fines as low as ₦50,000.
“This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he said.
He added that the ministry is working with private donors to help release many of these non-violent prisoners, adding that it is also pushing for reforms that focus on rehabilitation, not just punishment.
He mentioned such reforms as digital case tracking, vocational training in prisons, and partnerships to improve prison conditions.
“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo urged everyone to live with purpose and pursue excellence.
“Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, let it be a nation of performance. It is time to refine our genius, not just export it,” he said.
