Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that the federal government has successfully cleared over 200,000 unprocessed international passport applications since his assumption of office.

Speaking at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series in Lagos on Monday, the Minister also revealed that his ministry has cleared N28 billion in old debts without requiring additional funding from the government.

Tunji-Ojo, who delivered a lecture titled "Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate," emphasized the importance of bold leadership, system reform, and strategic use of technology in governance.

"Leadership is not about reacting to problems; it is 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 stated.

The Minister provided detailed explanations of how his ministry leveraged innovation, technology, and strategic planning to address the longstanding issues of passport backlogs and accumulated debts.

Under his leadership, the Interior Ministry has implemented several technological innovations, including e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians in diaspora, and advanced passenger tracking systems.

Prison Reform Concerns

Addressing Nigeria's correctional system, Tunji-Ojo expressed concern over its current state. He highlighted that more than 4,000 inmates remain incarcerated simply because they cannot afford to pay fines as low as N50,000.

"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," the Minister remarked. "A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise."

The Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended Tunji-Ojo's leadership approach, noting that "Innovation is not about big budgets; it is about big thinking." He added that the Minister's work exemplifies what genuine public service should represent.

The Minister's achievements come amid ongoing efforts by the federal government to improve service delivery across various sectors and address longstanding administrative challenges in Nigeria's public institutions.