Tag: Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

• E-Visa system processes over 14,000 applications in six weeks

Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said the recently launched electronic visa (e-visa regime) processed over 14,000 applications within its first six weeks.

Tunji-Ojo spoke yesterday at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on major immigration innovations at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja.

The minister announced that the electronic Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (e-CERPAC) and the electronic Temporary Work Permit (TWP) were set to go live within the next week.

Highlighting the efficiency of the new system, Tunji-Ojo said: “I can tell you that within the first six weeks of the e-visa, we were able to process over 14,000 visa applications. So, by any standard in the world, it is a pass mark. It is a huge one and, of course, those little hitches, I tell you, within the next one to two weeks, will be history. We will correct them.”

He emphasised the dedication behind the innovations, saying: “We are already working. Even yesterday, in my house, the CGIS was there. Technological partners were at my house. The DCG visa was in my house. All of us were at my house. We worked for hours yesterday, a Sunday, even in my conference room at home. We were working because we understand that when you are in the process of innovation, there is no room, there is no opportunity for you to close your eyes. You must make sure it works. We are ready for the challenge.”

The minister explained that the e-visa system was introduced not only for migration management but also as a catalyst for economic growth.

READ ALSO: Umar unveils 38 ‘unsung June 12 heroes’ in military

“To me, when somebody needs a visa to Nigeria and all he is looking for is who knows the minister, who knows the CG Immigration, who knows the Permanent Secretary, that is not how to grow a country. This is the truth.

“You must make it easy while not compromising national security. There must be a strategy. So, the e-visa, I want to assure you, is here and by the grace of God, it is here to stay.”

Tunji-Ojo also announced that the e-border solution has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s border security framework.

“We are not yet where we want to be, but we are not where we were. There has been progress. The simple truth is that we will continue to invest in our e-border governance and put more boots on the ground to make sure that every inch of the Nigerian border space is well protected,” he added.

Regarding the upcoming e-CERPAC and TWP, the minister declared an end to the previous misuse of the TWP system.

“That era when people came on TWP almost for free, kept renewing over and over, just to evade the law, is gone. So, for us, TWP is automated just like CERPAC is already automated,” Tunji-Ojo said.

Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has stated that the transformative reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration will protect the interest of Nigerians and yield economic benefits.

He spoke at a stakeholders meeting with the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), NSCDC, and other stakeholders in Lagos on Tuesday March 4.

The Minister emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships in driving reforms that benefit both the private sector and the broader Nigerian economy.

Tunji-Ojo reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering a seamless working relationship between the private sector and the government to enhance economic growth.

He stated that the government’s primary goal is to implement policies that protect the interests of Nigerians while fostering a business-friendly environment. 

Tunji-Ojo stressed that achieving meaningful economic growth requires collaboration between the public and private sectors, as neither can achieve it alone.

He said: “We understand that the public sector cannot do it alone. We need strategic partnerships with NECA, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and other key stakeholders. 

“What is important to us is also important to them—the interest of our country. By working together, we can achieve what once seemed impossible,” he added.

Read Also: Lent: Enugu Catholic Bishop urges Nigerians to seek repentance, shun evils 

During the meeting, the minister touched on ongoing reforms, particularly the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) reforms, expatriate quota administration, and business permits. 

He assured stakeholders that these reforms are aimed at making business operations smoother for Nigerians and foreign investors. 

The discussion also covered border control policies and their impact on businesses, with the minister reaffirming the government’s commitment to balancing security measures with economic needs.

Highlighting recent passport reforms, the minister stated that the government has introduced a contactless passport application system in Canada and Europe, which is now being expanded to Asia. 

He explained that this initiative eliminates unnecessary human contact, making it easier for Nigerians abroad to access passport services without extensive travel.

NECA Director-General, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, commended the government for its openness to engaging with the private sector. 

He emphasized that governance becomes more effective when visionary leaders drive it, noting that the meeting allowed for constructive and frank discussions on key issues affecting businesses. 

He welcomed the reforms being introduced, particularly those that align with private sector expectations.

Smatt-Oyerinde also expressed optimism about the swift implementation of the agreed-upon changes, emphasizing that certain reforms, including expatriate quota administration and pre-evaluation processes, must commence immediately. 

He noted that while a 90-day review period was initially suggested, stakeholders agreed that major reforms should begin within a week. 

He called for sustained engagement between the government and private sector leaders to ensure seamless policy implementation and compliance.

“We have engaged constructively today in a very frank manner, and I must commend this government for opening up the channels of engagement. 

“This is what governance should be engagement, collaboration, and problem-solving. 

“If ministers and agencies consistently engage like this, it will make governance more efficient and drive faster economic growth,” Oyerinde said.

The meeting concluded with assurances from the Ministry of Interior that all resolutions reached would be implemented in line with the federal government’s vision for economic transformation. 

Tunji-Ojo also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring policies that foster business growth while safeguarding the interests of Nigerians.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the reactivation of broken-down equipment in the nation’s passport offices in Atlanta and New York in the United States (U.S.A.).

Tunji-Ojo said the order was necessitated by a petition from Nigerians in the diaspora who demanded the resuscitation of broken-down passport equipment in Atlanta and New York Consulates in the U.S.A.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his media aide, Mr. Alao Babatunde, said the minister had directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately deploy new printers to the passport offices in both cities.

The printers are ready for installation as part of the short-term solution to resolve the current challenge promptly, Babatunde said.

The statement reads: “The minister hinted that there is a new solution being implemented as a long-term plan that will usher in a streamlined passport regime, enabling Nigerians to apply for their passports with more ease.

Read Also: Nigerians in U.S urge Interior Minister to address passport printer shortage

“Part of this plan includes the activation of the Passport Personalisation Centre in Abuja, which is scheduled to start in the next few weeks while also opening up more countries for the already-deployed contactless solution.

“The Ministry of Interior …is working round the clock, and none of the agencies is left behind. “

At the Nigeria Immigration Service, for instance, there has been an end-to-end automation of the passport application process and the introduction of the contactless application process, which has since been launched in Canada.

“The minister assures that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians experience #RenewedHope laced with innovation and convenience while still enhancing national security.”