The Federal Government has successfully cleared more than 200,000 delayed passport applications and settled a legacy debt of ₦28 billion, all without requesting additional funds from the national treasury, according to Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Speaking in Lagos during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series on Monday, the minister disclosed the milestone achievements, attributing them to effective leadership, strategic innovation, and the application of technology within the Ministry of Interior.
The event, themed “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” emphasized the importance of visionary governance, technological transformation, and sustainable reforms in public service delivery.
“True leadership isn’t about reacting to problems after they arise. It’s about identifying and solving them before they become crises,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He stressed the need for purpose-driven action and timely decision-making in government institutions.
He noted that technological innovations such as the e-visa system, contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora, and enhanced passenger monitoring tools were instrumental in improving service delivery across the ministry.
The minister also highlighted the worsening condition of correctional facilities across the country.
He revealed that over 4,000 inmates are still behind bars simply because they cannot afford to pay fines, some as low as ₦50,000.
“This isn’t just a legal issue — it’s a moral one. When a society punishes the poor more severely than it does actual criminals, it has lost its moral direction,” he stated.
To address this, Tunji-Ojo said the government is working with private donors to secure the release of non-violent inmates who are only in prison due to unpaid fines.
He also emphasized the need for prisons to serve rehabilitative rather than punitive functions.
Proposed reforms include the implementation of digital case tracking systems, skills acquisition programs for inmates, and efforts to upgrade living conditions in correctional centres.
“A correctional facility must reform, not destroy. Justice that lacks dignity is simply injustice in another form,” the minister added.
Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, praised Tunji-Ojo’s leadership, describing his approach as a model of innovation and commitment to meaningful change in governance.