THE MINISTER WHO FIXED THE QUEUE

Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has managed to significantly improve the efficiency of several Nigerian government agencies. When he took office in 2023, the Nigeria Immigration Service was facing a backlog of 204,332 passport applications, causing delays for students, patients, and business owners. Tunji-Ojo took swift action, consolidating 96 decentralised personalisation centres into a single centralised processing centre and moving applications online.

The backlog was cleared within three weeks, and the queue that had previously been an integral part of the system was abolished. This transformation demonstrates Tunji-Ojo's expertise in data management, as he treated the Ministry of Interior as a data problem rather than a traditional bureaucratic one. His efforts have extended beyond travel documents, with improvements in the Civil Defence Corps, Mining Marshals, and Federal Fire Service.

The most notable achievement, however, is the establishment of an independent panel to investigate corruption, abuse of power, and failures within the Nigerian Correctional Service. The panel spent 16 months on its investigation, visiting 86 custodial centres across 23 states, and is expected to report its findings soon. Tunji-Ojo's commitment to transparency is evident in his decision to allow public access to the panel's results, which will serve as a basis for enforcing necessary changes.

He has also highlighted the insufficient capacity within the correctional system, urging the judiciary and state attorneys-general to use available non-custodial options instead of increasing cell numbers. To further improve performance, Tunji-Ojo has called for the publication of a monthly public dashboard, showcasing the ministry's progress on various metrics such as passport turnaround, visa processing, inmate admissions, and releases.

Overall, Tunji-Ojo's tenure as Minister of Interior has been marked by significant strides in efficiency, transparency, and accountability, setting a positive example for future administrations.