Mathew Amaechi
In an announcement at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that the Federal Government has cleared over 200,000 pending passport applications and settled ₦28 billion in historic debts—all without additional federal funding. The breakthrough, achieved through technological innovation and strategic reforms, signals a transformative shift in Nigeria’s public service delivery.
Speaking under the theme “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” Tunji-Ojo credited the success to bold leadership and tech-driven solutions, including a revamped e-visa platform, contactless passport renewal systems for Nigerians abroad, and advanced passenger tracking mechanisms. “Leadership is about solving problems before they erupt.
We asked: What’s our purpose? How do we execute? When is the right time to act? Innovation answered,” he told a gathering of business leaders, policymakers, and civil society figures.
Shifting focus to Nigeria’s correctional facilities, the Minister condemned the plight of over 4,000 inmates imprisoned solely due to unpaid fines as low as ₦50,000. “This isn’t a legal issue—it’s a moral collapse. Punishing poverty more harshly than crime strips society of its conscience,” he asserted. To address this, the ministry is collaborating with private donors to secure releases for non-violent offenders while pushing reforms like digital case tracking, vocational training programs, and public-private partnerships to improve prison conditions.
“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” Tunji-Ojo emphasized, outlining plans to prioritize rehabilitation over punitive measures.
Access Holdings Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede lauded the Minister’s approach, stating, “Innovation isn’t about big budgets—it’s about big thinking. This is public service redefined.” The event, part of Access Bank’s initiative to drive national transformation through dialogue, highlighted Tunji-Ojo’s call for systemic accountability and tech adoption across governance.
In his closing remarks, the Minister urged Nigerians to embrace purpose-driven excellence: “Let Access Bank transcend finance to become a philosophy. Let Nigeria shift from potential to performance. Our genius must be refined, not exported.”
The announcements mark a significant stride in resolving long-standing bureaucratic inefficiencies while spotlighting urgent humanitarian challenges within Nigeria’s justice system. As reforms unfold, stakeholders await tangible outcomes for thousands awaiting freedom—and a nation eager to reclaim its moral compass.
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