Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced the clearance of over 200,000 unprocessed passport backlogs since taking office, signaling a dramatic shift in the ministry’s operational efficiency and reform agenda.
Speaking at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS) on Monday at the bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Minister shared progress updates and laid out a bold blueprint for innovation-led governance under the theme: “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate.”
According to a statement released by Access Bank, Tunji-Ojo also revealed that the Ministry had successfully cleared ₦28 billion in legacy debts all without additional funding from the federal government. Instead, he attributed the achievements to a strategy built on system integration, technological innovation, and financial self-sufficiency.
“Leadership is not about reacting to problems. It is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur,” Tunji-Ojo said during his keynote, drawing from his background as an ethical hacker. “And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?”
Among the Ministry’s innovations he highlighted were:
- Rollout of e-visa platforms
- Contactless passport renewals for Nigerians in the diaspora
- Deployment of advanced passenger information systems
- Commissioning of a Tier-4 data centre to support 24/7 immigration services
Justice Without Dignity is Injustice in Disguise
One of the most powerful moments in his address came as Tunji-Ojo turned his attention to Nigeria’s troubled correctional system. He lamented that over 4,000 inmates are being held in correctional facilities simply because they cannot afford fines as low as ₦50,000.
“This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one,” he stated. “A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass.”
He explained that the Ministry, in collaboration with private donors, has begun securing the release of non-violent offenders unable to pay minor fines. Additionally, the Ministry is rolling out reforms prioritizing rehabilitation, including:
- Digital case tracking systems to prevent indefinite detention
- Vocational training programs within correctional centers
- Public-private partnerships to enhance living conditions and operational standards
“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” the Minister declared.
Access Group Praises Visionary Leadership
Welcoming the Minister to the event, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings PLC, praised Tunji-Ojo for combining vision with decisive action.
“What Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets it is about big thinking,” Aig-Imoukhuede said. “His approach to public service reflects the same DNA of impact and excellence that defines Access Group.”
He noted that the Guest Lecture Series is designed to spark deeper national conversations around leadership, accountability, and service delivery.
“We cannot build the Nigeria we want without leaders who understand systems, value people, and are committed to sustainable change. Today’s conversation has shown us what that looks like in action.”
The event attracted top executives, policymakers, and thought leaders, reinforcing Access Bank’s expanding role as not just a financial institution, but a national platform for dialogue and transformation.
In his closing remarks, Tunji-Ojo challenged attendees to adopt a mindset of excellence and national pride.
“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 concluded.
