Tag: Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has declared that the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Correctional Service are already yielding results and producing positive impacts.

The minister expressed the government’s commitment to collaborate with critical stakeholders especially the National Assembly in advancing the reforms and drive them to logical conclusion.

He said the progress in reforms has led to a drop in inmate numbers from over 86,000 to approximately 81,450, due to a deliberate review process that identified and addressed cases of prolonged incarceration over minor, bailable offences.

The Minister gave the insights when the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chinedu Ogah and other members of his Committee paid a visit to the Ministry.

According to a statement from the Director of Press in the Ministry, Ozoya Imohimi, Dr. Tunji-Ojo also reaffirmed his passion for the Nigerian Correctional Service, describing it as the agency closest to his heart due to its focus on humanity and justice.

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“Our government is working hard to enhance the strength of our institutions and ensure that even the most forgotten citizens are not left behind,” he said.

Highlighting the shared vision of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the government’s strength is not measured by how it treats the powerful, but by how it uplifts the weakest in the society.

 “Our correctional centres house the most vulnerable, those whose freedom of movement and choice have been legally curtailed. It is our moral and constitutional duty to ensure they are treated with dignity and fairness.

“Your visit is not only symbolic but deeply appreciated,” the Minister told the visitors.

The Minister particularly acknowledged the unwavering support received during past initiatives, noting that the success of such efforts would not have been possible without the backing of dedicated lawmakers.

He praised the harmonious working relationship between the executive and legislature, describing it as a model of interdependence rather than rivalry. “We must appreciate where we’re coming from to value how far we have come. The current synergy between the arms of the government is what is driving real change,” he added.

Earlier, the House Committee Chairman on Reformatory Institutions, Ogah said the purpose of their visit was to commend the Minister and his team for effective and innovative achievements in the country’s security space

He added that the remarkable landmarks in the reformatory institutions are in line with the president’s agenda to reposition the country for greatness.

The Federal Government  is  to establish a centralised system for the authentication and verification of all travel documents in the country.

The initiative, according to Interior Minister  Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo will help to tackle immigration and document fraud, particularly those associated with border control.

He said: “We discovered that one of the key drivers of rising document fraud is the absence of a centralised, real-time verification system.

“Currently, if someone submits 20 documents, you may need to contact 20 different issuing agencies to verify them. That breeds inefficiency.”

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Tunji-Ojo   spoke  yesterday at a meeting in Abuja   with the United Kingdom (UK’s) Minister of State, David Hanson.

  Hanson  was in company with  delegates from the UK Home Office, National Crime Agency  and the British High Commission.

Tunji-Ojo   explained that the proposed system would allow real-time verification of all documents such as bank statements, passports  and certificates at a single centre .

The minister, who  also said Nigeria was ready to take the lead in formulating a regional strategy for border control, noted that regional differences required customised approaches.

“To tackle a heterogeneous problem with a homogeneous approach will not work,” he  said, explaining that that is Nigeria  is  planning a regional border conference to allow for the development of unified yet adaptable strategies to combat migration and border-related challenges.”

He further disclosed that Nigeria’s EU visa solution platform would go live on Thursday.

According to him, this will allow for more efficient processing and international cooperation while safeguarding national security and promoting investment.

“We now have a policy that ensures a response—approval or rejection—within 24 to 48 hours of applying for an EU visa,” he said.

On  the  Renewed Hope Agenda, Tunji-Ojo emphasised the Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to preventing corruption rather than merely reacting to it.

“Our performance will be judged not by the number of convictions or recoveries but by how many crimes or frauds we prevent,” he said.

  Hanson expressed  UK’s readiness to continue collaborating with Nigeria to improve criminal justice outcomes.

He  noted that the UK was reviewing its e-visa system and migration policies while exploring ways to expand trade, business, and skills development opportunities with Nigeria.

“My colleagues at the High Commission are eager to maintain strong engagement with the Nigerian government,” Hanson  said

According to him, the UK looks forward to enhancing cooperation in tackling crime and fraud.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has lamented the incarceration of over 26, 000 children in the nation’s custodial centres, saying the figure represents 30 per cent of the total number of inmates in the Correctional facilities.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo said the criminal justice system in Nigeria needs urgent reforms to prevent vulnerable groups from going through difficult and unwarranted experiences.

He reaffirmed the present administration’s commitment to addressing pressing issues within the nation’s correctional system, with a specific focus on the alarming number of children in Correctional centres.

The Minister made the remarks at a high level inter-agency stakeholders meeting held in Abuja to address the urgent issue of children deprived of liberty in Correctional facilities.

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He said the presence of children in correctional facilities amounted to a violation of laws requiring their placement in borstal institutions. Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the lack of adequate facilities and called for urgent action and penalties to address these legal and institutional gaps.

The Minister in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Ozoya Imohimi, outlined key reforms to transform Correctional centres into centres for reformation and rehabilitation.

He said the establishment of a Nigerian Paramilitary Academy would ensure that Correctional personnel and officers are trained in empathy and correctional principles.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has lamented the incarceration of over 26, 000 children in the nation’s custodial centres, saying the figure represents 30 percent of the total number of inmates in the Correctional facilities. 

Tunji-Ojo said the criminal justice system in Nigeria needs urgent reforms to prevent vulnerable groups from going through difficult and unwarranted experiences. 

He reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration to address pressing issues within the nation’s correctional system, with a specific focus on the alarming number of children in correctional centres.

The Minister made the remarks at a high level Inter-agency stakeholders meeting in Abuja to address the urgent issue of children deprived of liberty in correctional facilities.

He said the presence of children in Correctional facilities amounted to a violation of laws requiring their placement in borstal institutions. 

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the lack of adequate facilities and called for urgent action and penalties to address these legal and institutional gaps.

The Minister in a statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Ozoya Imohimi outlined key reforms to transform correctional centres into centres for reformation and rehabilitation.

 He said the establishment of a Nigerian Paramilitary Academy would ensure that Correctional personnel and officers are trained in empathy and correctional principles.

He added that emphasis would also be placed on non-custodial measures for non-violent offenders to reduce pre-trial detentions.

 The Minister highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration to tackle juvenile detention and called for active participation from state governments, as correctional services require a federation-wide approach.

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“The future is now. We are committed to building a system that generations yet to come will be proud to call their own. Correctional services are not about condemnation but correction, and this is the path we must follow,” the Minister stated.

Tunji-Ojo further explained that, the 2024 report on children and young adults deprived of liberty presents a sobering reality, an alarming 26,000 children have been held annually in Correctional facilities over the past five years. 

He said this figure represents over 30% of the total inmate population, raising serious concerns about violations of child protection laws. 

He highlighted the urgency of the issue, declaring that the government would investigate the breaches and hold institutions accountable.

 “The law is clear, children should not be in adult correctional centres. We will not tolerate violations of this law. There will be consequences for agencies that fail to uphold the law,” he asserted.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) need psychological evaluation to enable them carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.

Tunji-Ojo spoke yesterday in Abuja on allegations of corruption, abuse of position, and other violations at the NCoS.

The minister said he had no apology for saying so, insisting that bribery or other forms of corruption in the NCoS should be viewed in the context of the giver and the taker.

He emphasised that on the part of personnel, there has to be zero tolerance for corruption henceforth.

Declaring open the second public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and other violations against the NCoS at Abuja Continental Hotel, Tunji-Ojo noted that by now, NCoS personnel are expected to be agents of rehabilitation, restoration, reformation, and transformation.

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He said: “Beyond physical infrastructure and strategic reforms, NCoS personnel should be agents of rehabilitation, restoration, and transformation. They should not be for incarceration and condemnation. When condemnation takes the place of corrections, then the system will fail.

“Our correctional officers need psychological evaluation to be able to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently. Our system needs a man who is psychologically sound to be able to attend to the needs of someone else who is psychologically down.

“When the subject of protection becomes the target of abuse, then there is a problem.”

The minister said the Comptroller-General of Corrections has a lot of work to do on the psychological uprightness of his personnel.

He advised the Secretary of the Panel to come up with holistic recommendations that would address the challenges facing the NCoS.

Tunji-Ojo said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has invested so much in the welfare of personnel of para-military services through promotion, increase in salaries and payments of peculiar allowances to encourage them to do their jobs diligently.

According to him, over 52,000 personnel were promoted within 18 months of the Tinubu administration coming to office with all backlogs of promotion cleared.

The minister recalled that the President recently approved the establishment of Paramilitary Academy for the services for career progression and development.

He stressed that the era of people benefitting from a dysfunctional system is gone forever as the present administration and himself would continue to do things the right ways.

A businessman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Eleduma, has hailed the Minister of Interior, Dr  Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for introducing an innovative e-gate system at the airport.

 This new system is intended to revolutionise the travel experience for Nigerian passport holders, streamlining the arrival process and reducing delays.

 Upon arrival, passengers are directed to a dedicated section for Nigerian passport holders, where they encounter cutting-edge e-gates similar to those found at Heathrow Airport.

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 In a statement, Eleduma praised the Minister’s efforts to transform and innovate Nigeria’s airport infrastructure.

 “The Minister’s commitment to modernising our airport infrastructure is truly commendable.

“His dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction is impressive, and this innovative e-gate system is just one example of his leadership”.

“This development will undoubtedly enhance the overall travel experience, making it more efficient, secure, and enjoyable for Nigerian citizens.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Friday explained the launch of the Contactless Passports applications as only the beginning of good things to come from the on-going reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Tunji-Ojo said the reforms would be expanded by bringing government services closer to the people, efficiently and with the adoption of modern technology. 

The Minister described the launch of the contactless Passports applications in Europe, UK and Ireland as a significant advancement following its successful implementation in Canada. 

The Minister in a statement he personally signed praised President Bola Tinubu leadership for the feat.

“Today marks yet another pivotal moment in our commitment to streamline and enhance the efficiency of government services for Nigerians both at home and abroad in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of this administration.

“As with the case in Canada, this innovative system is designed to eliminate the traditional hurdles associated with passport renewals. Now, eligible Nigerians in Europe can renew their passports entirely online from the comfort of their homes and offices.

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“This initiative not only reduces the inconvenience of travel and long waiting times but also brings the services of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) directly to your digital doorstep,” Tunji-Ojo said. 

He said the launch underscored efficiency in government services by allowing passport renewals to be conducted without physical presence. 

This helps us cut down processing times significantly, the Minister added. 

The Minister noted that accessibility as a key factor also ensured that Nigerians in the diaspora experience government services with ease, regardless of their location.

Tunji-Ojo said modernization of the processes as another key factor means “embracing technology to meet the contemporary needs of our citizens in line with our pledge to digital transformation of the country as we race towards achieving the 1-trillion dollar economy ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).”

He said:” The Nigerian diaspora is an integral part of our national fabric, which contributes immensely to our development. Hence, it is our duty to ensure they have access to services that match the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.

“As a government, we will continue to uphold transparency without compromising security in all our operations. This launch is only the beginning; we are poised to expand these reforms by bringing government services closer to all Nigerians.

“We look forward to a future where every Nigerian, whether at home or abroad, benefits from our efforts to modernize and humanize government services.”