2024 should be the year

Tunji-Ojo, Interior Ministry and expectations for 2025

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IN a country often disillusioned with governance, where citizens have lost hope and resigned from expecting better treatment from elected officials, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has emerged as a figure of renewed hope, proving that leadership driven by action can rebuild trust. Dubbed the “Star Boi” of the Renewed Hope Administration by Nigerians, following numerous awards and commendations, even from the number one citizen himself, President Tinubu, Tunji-Ojo has become synonymous with impact, innovation, and purpose-driven service. What truly captivates the Nation is not only his remarkable achievements but also the depth of thought, urgency, and human touch he consistently brings to his role. When Tunji-Ojo assumed office, he faced a ministry weighed down by systemic inefficiencies. Yet, within weeks, the narrative began to change. His decisive action, fueled by advanced technical know-how, to clear 204,332 passport’s backlog and issue 50,000 new passports within three weeks sent a powerful message that governance can indeed work when there is political will. But his reforms went beyond numbers as they redefined relationships between citizens and the system, rekindling hope in the machinery of government.

Under his stewardship, the once-tedious immigration process has also undergone a technological revolution. The installation of eGates in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt airports is reshaping border management, ensuring seamless processing for travelers and positioning Nigeria as a modern gateway to Africa. This sheer commitment to efficiency has not just made services faster but also dignified, promoting a sense of pride amongst Nigerians in the Tinubu-led administration. Yet, it is in the minister’s humane approach to correctional reforms that his leadership shines most. By spearheading the rehabilitation and refurbishment of correctional centers such as the one in Kuje recently, he has shifted the focus from punishment to rehabilitation. The release of 4,068 inmates, facilitated through a groundbreaking Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, accentuated his belief that justice should heal rather than destroy. He further set up skill acquisition factories to enable inmates to acquire skills necessary for self-development and sufficiency after incarceration. His reformative approach has seen inmates author books and others engaging in productive innovations.

In a bold step forward, he secured the approval of the President to recruit medical doctors into correctional facilities, addressing longstanding healthcare challenges of inmates and ensuring their dignity is preserved. This presidential approval has allowed for the Nigeria Correctional Service to begin accepting serving NYSC corps members with medical qualifications. Talk about an all-inclusive, hope-renewing government! Tunji-Ojo’s leadership has also been proactive in the realm of security. The establishment of the state-of-the-art Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (8.1 Petabytes Command, Data, and Control Centre) that warehouses the Data Centre, the Command and Control Centre, eGates, Visa Approval Centre (VAC), ECOWAS Card Centre, a Solar Farm of 4.1 MW battery capacity, and the Passport Personalisation Centre is a masterstroke in modern governance. With hundreds of NIS officers running shifts for its operations, the complex underscores Nigeria’s resolve to lead Africa in technological infrastructure. The Mines Marshals and Power Rangers initiatives, which protect the Nation’s critical infrastructure and vast resources from illegal exploitation and vandalism, are further highlights to the Minister’s proactive stewardship.

In recent months, the minister’s focus has expanded to encompass the safety of the Nation’s children through the Safe Schools Initiative, an innovative program designed to shield students from bandit attacks. His commissioning of fire engines, rapid intervention vehicles, and the modernization of the Fire Service Academy showcases his commitment to preparedness, ensuring emergency responders are well-equipped for any eventuality. However, Olubunmi’s work is not only about grand initiatives; but also about his disposition towards the welfare of the people who make these systems run. Over 50,000 paramilitary officers have been promoted under his leadership, with personnel now receiving peculiar allowances, rent, and life assurance packages. These strides have energized the workforce, inspiring renewed dedication to service. Perhaps one of his most strategic moves has been the seamless integration of NIMC under the Ministry of Interior, thereby streamlining National identification processes. This development has strengthened data integrity which is a cornerstone for effective governance and National planning.

Nigerians, always quick to spot genuine leadership, have responded with admiration and praise. On social media and in community discussions, Tunji-Ojo is celebrated as an “astute technocrat,” a man who delivers results rather than rhetoric. His style—a blend of decisiveness, empathy, and vision—has reawakened the public’s expectations of governance, challenging other leaders to step up. To call him “Star Boi” is not merely to acknowledge his achievements but to reflect the aspirations of a people longing for transformative leadership. Tunji-Ojo has become more than a minister; he has become a symbol of what is possible when competence meets courage. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has equally received encomium from Nigerians for his grand foresight in the appointment of this young man who is not just serving dutifully but bringing glory to his administration.

As fulfilling as 2024 was, the Minister remains undeterred in his mission to actualize the renewed hope mandate of President Tinubu. In 2025, Nigerians can anticipate the activation of full visa automation through e-visa systems, the global implementation of contactless travel processes, and enhanced border security across air, water, and land entry points. Plans are underway to intensify the protection of critical national assets by deploying fortified, cutting-edge equipment against jailbreaks and other security threats.

Accordingly, inmates’ welfare will see further improvements, alongside the decongestion of correctional centers and the continued rollout of skill acquisition programs. Officers’ welfare, including the sustained promotion of paramilitary officers, will remain a priority.  Infrastructural projects like the completion of the Fire Service Academy in Abuja, well-equipped and upgraded correctional centres in addition to others executed last year, and the expansion of eGates to more international airports are poised to redefine service delivery. Additionally, more collaboration with sister agencies will be sustained to strengthen national security through advanced technology. Suffice to say that, Nigerians will experience wonders like never before in the year 2025 if the Minister’s New Year resolution is something to go by (Let’s do exploit and achieve the extraordinary). As Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s legacy continues to take shape, Nigerians are left with a profound question: if one man can achieve so much in such little time, what’s stopping others from doing the same?

READ ALSO: How I ran Interior ministry with zero budgetary allocation in 2024 — Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo


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