FG clears over 200,000 passport backlogs, settles ₦28b debt—Minister

Tunji-Ojo made this known yesterday during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series, held at the bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” the Minister unveiled key reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Interior, emphasizing the need for technology, innovation, and ethical leadership in public service.

“Leadership is about foresight and purpose. You must ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?” he told attendees.

The Minister said the passport backlog and financial burden were resolved without extra allocations from the federal government.

Instead, the Ministry implemented a strategy centered on system integration, technological innovation, and financial self-sufficiency.

Tunji-Ojo highlighted several reforms, including the deployment of e-visa platforms, introduction of contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora, implementation of an Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), launch of a Tier-4 data centre for uninterrupted immigration services

He stated that these changes are part of the Ministry’s broader digital transformation initiative aimed at increasing efficiency and accessibility.

Addressing challenges in Nigeria’s correctional system, the Minister revealed that over 4,000 inmates remain in detention across the country due to an inability to pay fines as low as ₦50,000.

“This is not a legal crisis but a moral one. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Ministry, in partnership with private donors, has facilitated the release of several non-violent offenders and is pursuing structural reforms. These include: digital case tracking systems, vocational training programs within correctional facilities, public-private partnerships to improve living conditions and operational effectiveness

“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” he added.

Chairman of Access Holdings PLC, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended the Minister for his visionary leadership.

“Dr. Tunji-Ojo has shown that innovation is not about big budgets but big thinking. His leadership reflects the values of excellence and impact that define the Access brand,” he said.

Aig-Imoukhuede explained that the Guest Lecture Series was created to foster national dialogue around leadership, accountability, and service.

“To build a better Nigeria, we need leaders who understand systems, value people, and drive sustainable change,” he concluded.

The event gathered high-level policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders, affirming Access Bank’s growing influence as a platform for policy-driven conversations and nation-building.

In his closing remarks, Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to embrace a mindset of purpose and excellence.

“Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, but a nation of performance. It is time to refine our genius, not just export it,” he said.