The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that the Federal Government has cleared over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and paid off ₦28 billion in old debts, all without receiving additional funding from the government.
He made the revelations on Monday during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series held in Lagos, where he delivered a thought-provoking speech titled “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate.”
“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?” said Tunji-Ojo.
The Minister explained that his ministry leveraged innovation, strategic planning, and digital technology to tackle long-standing challenges in passport processing and public debt. He highlighted key advancements such as the introduction of e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, and advanced passenger tracking systems.
Tunji-Ojo also addressed the deplorable state of Nigeria’s correctional facilities, describing it as a moral crisis rather than just a legal one.
“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 stated.
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He revealed that over 4,000 inmates are imprisoned simply because they cannot afford fines as low as ₦50,000. In response, the Interior Ministry is partnering with private donors to secure the release of non-violent offenders and is pushing for reforms focused on rehabilitation over punishment.
“Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise. A correctional facility must correct, not condemn,” he said.
As part of ongoing prison reforms, the Minister cited the implementation of digital case tracking systems, vocational training programs for inmates, and infrastructure partnerships aimed at improving conditions within correctional centers.
Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, lauded the Minister’s performance and vision for public service, saying: “Innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking.”
The lecture, which drew participants from the business community, government, and civil society, is part of Access Bank’s broader initiative to spark transformative national conversations around leadership and innovation.
In his closing remarks, Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to lead lives driven by purpose and 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.
