The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that more than 200,000 pending passport applications have been processed since he assumed office.
He also disclosed that ₦28 billion in legacy debts had been cleared without requiring additional government funding.
Tunji-Ojo made these revelations while delivering a lecture at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series in Lagos on Monday. Speaking on the theme, “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” he emphasized the need for visionary leadership, systemic reform, and leveraging technology.
“Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur. And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?” he said.
He detailed how strategic planning and tech-based innovations—including e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewal for Nigerians abroad, and enhanced passenger tracking—have transformed service delivery within the ministry.
Turning to the state of correctional facilities, the Minister described the system as deeply troubled, revealing that over 4,000 inmates remain incarcerated due to their inability to pay fines as little as ₦50,000.
“This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he said.
He noted that the ministry is collaborating with private donors to secure the release of non-violent offenders and is advocating for a shift toward rehabilitation-centered justice.
“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” he added.
Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended the Minister’s innovative approach, saying, “Innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking.”
The event drew business leaders, policymakers, and experts from across Nigeria, part of Access Bank’s initiative to drive national transformation through dialogue on leadership and public service.
In closing, Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to strive for purpose-driven excellence.
“Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, let it be a nation of performance. It is time to refine our genius, not just export it,” he said.