At 43, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is Nigeria’s youngest Interior Minister, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023. In just two years in office, he has redefined public service in a nation often mired in bureaucratic inertia.
His reforms spanning immigration, prisons, and paramilitary services have set a blistering pace, achieving in months what predecessors took years to attempt. “Leadership is not about personal gain but national survival,” Tunji-Ojo told colleagues, framing his mission as a moral imperative. “Sometimes, we must bury ourselves so Nigeria can rise.”
REWIRING IMMIGRATION
Tunji-Ojo’s most visible triumph is the overhaul of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). A notorious backlog of 200,000 passport applications was cleared in a record three weeks, a feat that stunned observers. New standards followed: passport processing now takes two weeks, with options for home or office delivery. Digital upgrades contactless biometrics, an e-visa platform, and new passport printers have modernized operations. Electronic gates at airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano have bolstered security. The results are staggering: NIS issued 1.84 million passports in 2024, doubling revenue and aligning Nigeria with global standards. “We’re building a smarter, more secure, service-oriented system,” Tunji-Ojo says.
A COMPASSIONATE PRISON REFORM
Tunji-Ojo’s reforms extend to Nigeria’s overcrowded correctional facilities. He launched a decongestion drive, reducing the prison population from 86,000 to 81,500 in a year by reviewing thousands of cases. Over 4,000 inmates, jailed for minor offenses or unable to pay fines, were freed after Tunji-Ojo secured over ₦600 million from corporations and philanthropists to cover penalties. “The government’s strength is measured by how it uplifts the weakest,” he told lawmakers. Ten facilities, including the Kuje Custodial Centre, have been renovated, with an audit team ensuring accountability. Tunji-Ojo’s vision is clear: transform prisons into rehabilitation hubs, not just incarceration centers. “Restore hope,” he urged prison officials, a directive now guiding the Nigerian Correctional Service.
MODERNIZING PARAMILITARY FORCES
The minister’s ambition also reshaped Nigeria’s paramilitary services. Over 52,000 officers across immigration, correctional, Civil Defence (NSCDC), and Federal Fire Service received long-overdue promotions, with 21,000 NSCDC personnel alone gaining new ranks. Specialized squads, like the Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining, were launched, alongside new surveillance vehicles and distinctive uniforms. The Safe Schools initiative, a tech-driven program to protect students from kidnappings, reflects Tunji-Ojo’s focus on proactive security.
The Federal Fire Service, long neglected, is undergoing a radical transformation. Tunji-Ojo has called the 1963 Fire Service Act “outdated” and is pushing a new bill to empower officers and license private firefighting firms. “No serious investor will put money in a country without an emergency response system,” he told legislators in 2025. New rapid-response trucks, ambulances, and a revamped fire academy in Sheda signal a shift toward prevention. “Firefighters are as vital as oxygen,” he says, emphasizing proactive measures over reactive ones.
A NEW STANDARD FOR GOVERNANCE
Tunji-Ojo’s reforms have earned accolades. An international law-enforcement NGO praised his “swift clearance” of passport backlogs and “unprecedented promotion” of 32,361 paramilitary personnel. Legislative allies credit him with restoring dignity to long-neglected services by filling vacant command posts and boosting salaries. His tech-savvy leadership culminated in the inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex, a hub for the Interior Ministry’s digital transformation, aligning with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda. Leadership newspaper named him “Public Service Person of the Year 2023” for his bold vision.
The numbers tell the story: faster immigration services, fewer pre-trial detainees, and better-equipped firefighters and guards. Yet Tunji-Ojo remains grounded. “We are not yet where we want to be, but progress has been made,” he says. Nigerians are beginning to feel the impact shorter passport wait times, safer schools, and a justice system with a human face.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Despite the progress, challenges persist. Migration, internal security, and corrections demand sustained innovation and integrity. Tunji-Ojo has set a high bar, and Nigerians along with the global community now expect him to build institutions that endure beyond political cycles. His mantra, “business unusual,” reflects a governance philosophy that pushes Nigeria not just to where it wants to be, but where it ought to be.
As Tunji-Ojo forges ahead, the question is whether his momentum can become a lasting legacy. For now, he has proven that leadership can deliver. In a nation hungry for change, his reforms offer a glimpse of what’s possible: a Nigeria where efficiency, compassion, and dignity define public service.