- Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has distinguished himself among President Tinubu’s appointees, by effectively driving the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
- He has tackled some of the perennial challenges associated with his ministry, delivering significant reforms in the process
- TheRadar has compiled some of his notable achievements in his first year in office as the minister of Interior
After his first year in office, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, often called BTO, has distinguished himself from the cabinet members of President Bola Tinubu, bringing much-desired change to his ministry and driving the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
The former federal legislator has been honoured with several awards for his outstanding work in the Interior Ministry. These include the 2023 Personality of the Year award from Vanguard Newspaper, the Public Service Person of the Year 2023 from LEADERSHIP Newspaper, and the IT Productivity Award at Digital Nigeria 2023, organised by the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA).
Leveraging his knowledge of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has reformed the operations of the four agencies within the Interior Ministry. With the assistance of his associates and the endorsement of President Tinubu, he has adeptly used his office to deliver vital relief to Nigerians.
8 achievements by Tunji-Ojo during his first year in office
Here are some of his notable achievements, compiled by TheRadar
1. Clearance of backlogs
A major milestone for the minister was clearing a backlog of 204,332 passports and processing over 50,000 new applications within just three weeks—a feat that had eluded the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for years. Additionally, he tackled a backlog of 2.5 million National Identification Number (NIN) modifications that he inherited.
This resolution of the passport backlog has alleviated pressure on many Nigerians and rebuilt trust in the NIS’s ability to manage passport applications smoothly.
2. Swift passport processing
When Tunji-Ojo, often known as BTO, assumed office, he made it clear that the era of ‘business as usual’ in the Interior Ministry had come to an end.
He introduced a forward-thinking directive that marked the beginning of a new era of efficiency in the Interior Ministry, setting a two-week deadline for processing and issuing Nigerian passports.
Among his achievements is overseeing the development of a cutting-edge data centre and command and control centre at the NIS headquarters, which will soon be inaugurated. These advanced facilities will streamline the new visa and passport application processes and bolster border management systems.
3. Streamlining passport delivery
The minister has introduced measures to streamline passport delivery both to offices and homes for applicants in Nigeria and abroad, improving convenience and accessibility. Furthermore, he launched a new initiative allowing applicants to upload their passport photographs personally, making the application process more user-friendly and efficient.
Taking a proactive role in international relations, he has stressed the importance of fairness and reciprocity in visa procedures. His commitment is clear in his criticism of unfair advantages given to foreign nationals and his push for equitable treatment for Nigerian applicants overseas. This strong stance protects Nigerian citizens globally and strengthens the country's international standing.
4. NSCDC - 10,000 rangers to protect farmers, others
In an effort to combat vandalism in mining regions and increase sector revenue, Tunji-Ojo launched the Mining Marshal program at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters. Additionally, 10,000 Agro Rangers have been deployed across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory to defend farmlands and shield farmers from growing threats.
5. FIRS - Emergency response improvement, others
He promoted 1,680 personnel to new ranks in 2023 and successfully reduced the emergency response time of the Service to under 15 minutes nationwide. He also commissioned 15 Rapid Response Vehicles and six Firefighting trucks to enhance the Service's operational effectiveness. Additionally, he has started preparations to expand the Federal Fire Service, which will be supported by the passage of the Federal Fire and Rescue Service Bill.
The National Fire Academy in Sheda is being remodelled and enhanced with the vision of becoming a central training facility for private sector fire service personnel. The Academy has also been upgraded to offer technical and relevant courses that will prepare officers and personnel with the skills required for efficient service delivery.
6. NIS - Clearing of over N10b debt within 6 months, others
The construction of a command and control centre, which includes a 1.4 petabyte data centre, has been completed at the NIS headquarters in Sauka, Abuja.
Within the first six months of taking office, he cleared over N10 billion in debts owed to technical partners. He also established a committee to revamp the visa enrolment process for short-stay visitors, aligning with the #RenewedHope agenda to boost tourism and attract foreign investment.
Furthermore, the role of Document Verification Officers (DVOs) has been activated to authenticate individuals enrolling for passports at their Local Government Area of origin.
7. Deployment of 30 new patrol vehicles, e-gate facilities, others
E-Gate facilities have been installed as part of border security measures at international airports, with 21 e-gates in Lagos, and additional e-gates in Abuja, Port Harcourt (4), Enugu (4), and Kano (4).
Additionally, he commissioned the Arrival “E” section of Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the upgraded main entrance/exit gate and Quarter Guard at the Zone ‘A’ Headquarters in Lagos. Moreover, he began upgrading the international passport to meet global standards.
Thirty new patrol vehicles have also been commissioned and deployed to enhance the security of Nigeria’s borders.
8. Correctional facility rehabilitation, others
The minister has also undertaken the rehabilitation of several correctional facilities, highlighting his dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s security infrastructure. His initiative to decongest these facilities involved raising over N600M from corporate contributions to settle the fines of over 4,000 inmates. This move is projected to save the government around N1 billion annually on feeding expenses for these inmates.
The renovation of correctional facilities nationwide has begun, with 10 facilities already completed and 8 more, including the Kuje Correctional Centre, currently undergoing renovation.
He has overseen the promotion of thousands of personnel across the Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
We need more time, Interior Minister Olubunmi-Ojo pleads with Nigerians
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, appealed to Nigerians to give President Tinubu more time to fix the issues battling the country.
Tunji-Ojo said the country is going through a surgical process and will have to go through some pain before healing. He also stated that the administration is still young to be judged.