Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has hinted that more than 200, 000 unprocessed passport application backlogs have been cleared since he assumed office at the Ministry of Interior.
He revealed this while delivering a charge to the public and private sector at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS) held at the Bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
A Monday statement by the Bank, said the Minister, who spoke on the theme “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” also outlined a sweeping vision for innovation-driven governance, ethical leadership, and urgent reform in the country’s correctional system.
In his keynote address, Tunji-Ojo drew on his background as an ethical hacker to illustrate how great leadership, like in cybersecurity, must be proactive, identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they become crises.
“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 asked.
He showcased the transformation underway at the Ministry since he took office, adding that the sum of ₦28 billion in legacy debt had also been repaid.
These achievements, he noted, were realised without additional financial aid from the federal government.
Instead, he said, the Ministry deployed a strategy built on system integration, technology innovation, and financial self-sufficiency.
Among the innovations highlighted were the rollout of e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians in the diaspora, advanced passenger information systems, and the commissioning of a Tier-4 data centre to support round-the-clock immigration services.
In one of the most resonant moments of the event, the Minister spoke passionately about the broken state of Nigeria’s correctional system.
He noted that over 4,000 inmates were being held in custodial centres nationwide simply because they could not afford to pay fines as low 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 declared.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the Ministry has since partnered with private donors to secure the release of many of these non-violent offenders and is now pursuing structural reforms that prioritise rehabilitation over punishment.
These include digital case tracking to prevent indefinite detention, vocational training programmes within correctional centres, and public-private partnerships aimed at improving living conditions and operational efficiency.
“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise”, he said.
Chairman of Access Holdings PLC, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who welcomed the Minister to the lecture series, praised his clarity of vision and decisive leadership. “What Dr. Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” Aig-Imoukhuede said, adding that his approach to public service reflects the same DNA of impact and excellence that defines Access Group.
Aig-Imoukhuede noted that the Guest Lecture Series was designed to deepen the conversation around leadership, accountability, and service.
“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 brought together executives, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country, reinforcing Access Bank’s role as not only a financial powerhouse but also a platform for national transformation through dialogue, vision, and collaboration.
In his final message, Tunji-Ojo encouraged participants to embrace a personal philosophy of excellence and purpose.
“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.
