By Alaba Olusola Oke
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Gbenga Eleduma, has applauded the performance of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
He described Tunji-Ojo’s two years in office as exceptional and transformational.
In a statement on Sunday in Akure, Eleduma said Tunji-Ojo had redefined leadership in public service, significantly transforming the Ministry of Interior and earning nationwide recognition.
He highlighted the minister’s reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), including the clearance of more than 200,000 passport backlogs within three weeks.
He also mentioned the introduction of contactless biometric passports and the establishment of e-passport centres in Europe and Canada.
These efforts, he said, restored public trust in the NIS and streamlined services for Nigerians at home and abroad.
Eleduma also lauded the deployment of e-Gates at major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano, which had improved border security and eased passenger clearance.
He noted that Tunji-Ojo had extended reforms to correctional services by securing the release of more than 4,000 inmates through corporate partnerships that raised N585 million to pay minor fines.
The APC stalwart added that Tunji-Ojo had enhanced internal security through initiatives like the Civil Defence Mining Marshal, which increased mining revenue from N6 billion to N48 billion.
He said collaborations with the Ministry of Defence, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Department of State Services (DSS) had strengthened national security coordination.
Eleduma further commended the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) under the ministry, improved staff welfare, and the presidential approval to recruit 30,000 personnel into paramilitary agencies.
According to him, the ministry generated more than N6 billion in 2024 through services like expatriate quotas, marriage services, and citizenship applications.
He said that Tunji-Ojo’s leadership had inspired hope, boosted morale, and set new standards in public sector governance. (NAN)