According to Scott Belsky ‘Its not about ideas alone. Its about making ideas happen’’, that is the true story of Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Honourable Minister of Interior, in recent times, the Ministry and the agencies under it has witnessed an extraordinary transformation under the leadership of Dr Tunji-Ojo.

Since assuming office as the Minister, he has implemented numerous initiatives that has a profound and positive impact on the country. From clearing over 200,000 passport backlogs to prison decongestion and border security, his achievements have been nothing short of remarkable.

One of Dr Tunji-Ojo’s most commendable achievements has been the successful clearing of over 200,000 passport backlogs inherited from his predecessor.

The backlog had long plagued the citizens of Nigeria, causing undue delay and frustration. Under his leadership, a streamlined and efficient system was implemented, resulting in the swift processing of passports. In addition to this, he spearheaded the automation of passport processing, which not only increased the speed and reliability of the process but also reduced the risk of corruption.

It might interest patriotic Nigerians to know that a nation of over 200 million people and a giant of African continent, we do not have a data base for our passport holder, hence the need for Dr Tunji-Ojo, the man with numerous ideas to take the bull by the horn by initiation a data center for the Nigerian Immigration Service through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

This innovative approach allowed for the establishment of a state-of-the-art facility without drawing financial resources from the government. The data center has transformed and modernized operations, leading to improved security and increased efficiency in immigration services.

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Tunji-Ojo and his Transformative Wand in the Nigerian Correctional System

Before coming on board in the year 2023, our nation Nigeria and indeed Nigerians at home and in the diospora have always complained about the nature of our porous boarders, whether from the west to the south and also in the northern part of the country, the issue serves as weakness of the nation even in the fight against insecurity and smuggling, But Dr Tunji-Ojo in keeping with modern global standards, envisioned and initiated plans to fully automate Nigeria’s border security and monitoring systems.

This initiative will employ cutting-edge technology to enhance border surveillance, curb illegal activities, and ensure the protection of national security. It is expected that this automation will help prevent illegal immigration, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes more effectively.

Stakeholders who are in the know of how congested our prisons are did not take further positive action apart from the normal talks within the media space and little did Nigerians know that thousands of our prospective productive youths were languishing in correctional centers for not been able to pay fine for little crimes that are bailable in the eye of our laws, Dr Tunji-Ojo as usual showed great concern for the welfare of individuals in Nigeria’s prisons.

He recognized the dire situation of overcrowded and understaffed prisons, leading to poor living conditions for inmates. Under his leadership, various measures were taken to address this issue, including the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction of prison facilities.

Additionally, he championed collaboration with relevant stakeholders to expedite the judicial process, reducing the number of awaiting trial inmates significantly and sourcing for fund to bail out those without relatives and means to meet their bail conditions.

Whether we like it or not, diversifying our economy as a country or having multiple source of streams of income is the only way out for us to have a vibrant economy as a nation, what was done before the emergence of Dr Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior apart from the normal rhetoric’s ? , almost absolutely nothing, and that gave room to illegal mining all over the country, from north to south no region was spared, thereby cumulating to economic sabotage and leakages due to the activities of illegal miners, Illegal mining has been a longstanding challenge in Nigeria, not only causing environmental degradation but also causing economic losses for the nation.

As part of his commitment to the development of the mining sector, Dr Tunji-Ojo launched Mining Marshalls – a specialized force dedicated to combating illegal mining activities. This initiative has resulted in increased surveillance and enforcement measures, reducing the prevalence of this illegal practice and safeguarding natural resources.

Without leaving any stone unturned within his ministry and agencies under it, Dr Tunji-Ojo acknowledging the importance of efficient fire response services, initiated a Quick Response Operation within the Nigerian Fire Service. This operation has significantly improved response times and provided crucial aid in emergency situations.

Additionally, he recognized the necessity for skill development, therefore he established a world of art fire academy to train and equip firefighters with the necessary expertise to handle complex fire incidents according to global standard.

The strides made by Dr Tunji-Ojo since assuming office just about a year ago as Minister of Interior in Nigeria deserve commendation.

From clearing the passport backlog to prison decongestion, launching Mining Marshalls, and upgrading fire services, his innovative approaches and dedication to public service have transformed the Ministry of Interior.

As the nation continues to witness progress in these areas, it is evident that Dr Tunji-Ojo’s exceptional leadership is propelling Nigeria towards a more prosperous and secure future which deserves commendation and support.

We therefore dedicate ourselves to the minister’s project and will always support the man with ideas, zeal and political will to work for the betterment of Nigeria and we do this without fear of favour or contradiction but as our role and responsibility to help propel our dear country Nigeria to a greater height.

Amb. Haruna Abdulsalam, Director Strategic Communication, Conference of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability
Writes From Abuja.