- Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo urged agencies under the Federal Ministry of Interior to avoid distractions from the 2026 election-year political atmosphere and prioritise service delivery to Nigerians
- He tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Fire Service with strengthening border control, protecting critical infrastructure and improving emergency response
- The minister also directed the Nigerian Correctional Service to intensify inmate rehabilitation programmes while commending agencies for improvements in immigration processes, border management and correctional administration
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has urged agencies under the ministry to remain focused on their core responsibilities and avoid being distracted by the political activities associated with the 2026 election year.
Tunji-Ojo made the appeal on Saturday in Abuja at the conclusion of the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Interior. While commending the agencies for their performance so far, the minister warned that they must not become complacent despite the progress recorded.
According to him, the growing political atmosphere in the country should not interfere with the delivery of essential services to Nigerians.
“I beg you, this is 2026. Yes, you are professionals. This is an election year. Please don’t be distracted. Nigerians must get the service they need to get,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that agencies under the ministry interact directly with citizens on a daily basis, making it crucial for them to maintain high standards of service delivery.
“We must never take our eyes off the ball this 2026,” he added, stressing that past achievements should not lead to complacency within the ministry.
The minister also highlighted the importance of teamwork within the ministry, describing collective responsibility and peer review as guiding principles for its operations.
“Our mantra in the Ministry of Interior is ‘one for all, all for one’. We are here to protect one another and ensure that we deliver. This is not a game of buck-passing. We don’t buck-pass in the Ministry of Interior,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo further charged the Nigeria Immigration Service to strengthen border control and intensify efforts to curb irregular migration. He said the service must ensure that officers are adequately equipped and collaborate with border communities and state governments to safeguard the country’s territorial boundaries.
“We must equip our officers and give them the required instruments to protect every inch of our border space,” he stated, adding that the service must take steps to address the presence of irregular migrants in the country.
The minister also tasked the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps with enhancing the protection of critical national infrastructure and developing systems capable of detecting and responding swiftly to threats, particularly acts of economic sabotage.
Similarly, he urged the Federal Fire Service to strengthen emergency response and rescue operations nationwide. According to him, Nigerians must have confidence that help will arrive promptly during emergencies.
“This is not a time of negligence. Emergency and rescue services must be brought to the front burner so that Nigerians know that when they are in distress, help will be on the way,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo also called on the Nigerian Correctional Service to intensify rehabilitation programmes within correctional facilities in order to reduce the rate of reoffending among inmates.
He stressed that correctional centres must prioritise the transformation of inmates into responsible citizens rather than allowing them to leave prison worse than when they entered.
“For every person that goes into the correctional centre and comes back worse, it is an indictment on us. When people go to correctional centres, they must be rehabilitated and become better individuals,” he said.
The minister commended the heads and personnel of the agencies for their dedication and professionalism, noting that their efforts have contributed to improvements in immigration processes, border management, emergency response and correctional administration.
His remarks come amid heightened political activities across Nigeria as major parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party (Nigeria), intensify consultations and mobilisation ahead of party primaries.
Although Nigeria’s next general elections are scheduled for 2027, the year 2026 is expected to witness significant political manoeuvring as parties prepare to select their candidates.