You Must Treat Passport Applicants With Respect, Tunji-Ojo Tells NIS

The minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has given marching orders to the men and officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to, henceforth, treat passport applicants with utmost respect in all offices including those outside the country.

Tunji-Ojo, who enlightened Nigerians that the Nigeria Immigration Service was not doing passport applicants a favour, said: “It is the right of Nigerians to obtain their travel documents without being maltreated.”

While assuring Nigerians of his desire to proceed with reforms in the Service, he said, “My goal is such that Nigerians can be treated with respect, and that we get to unbuckle all bottlenecks of passport collections — and see other issues associated with immigration services in general, are under control.”

He added, “On this note, I am calling on all officers and men of the NIS, who cannot afford to align with this vision to quit or be shown the way out.”

The minister, who reiterated that he would stop at nothing to revolutionise passport processing in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu, added that the ministry’s component of the agenda is a transformative plan aimed at revamping the NIS, Nigeria Correspondent Service (NCoS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and other crucial areas within the ministry.

Tunji-Ojo in a viral video broadcast at the weekend, while unveiling his comprehensive vision for reforming key sectors under the Ministry of Interior, emphasised that his focus would be on ensuring that government’s promises translate into meaningful actions, making positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

While unwrapping his proposed reforms for the Fire Service, Dr Tunji-Ojo stressed the urgency of enhancing response times to emergencies.

The Minister, who emphatically stated that it is not going to be business as usual, categorically said the Ministry of Interior under his saddle would do everything within its power as a mother hen to ensure that there are key reforms in the Federal Fire Service and turn round the response time of Firemen to emergencies to under 15 minutes.

“I am very passionate about the Fire Service. We must work on the Fire Service Act. The Service must be empowered to enforce and ensure that every house has a fire gadget, even if it’s an extinguisher,” he stated.

He said his commitment to improving Immigration services, correctional facilities, emergency response, and infrastructure protection reflects the administration’s vision for a more secure, efficient, and prosperous Nigeria.

On the Correctional Service, he promised that his administration would see towards alleviating congestions in custodial centres as well as providing inmates with the opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

On prioritising the protection of national assets and facilities, the minister pledged to ensure the effective protection of national infrastructure by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He said, “We will ensure that in terms of protection of national infrastructure – beautiful national infrastructure, the Nigerian civil defence should please respond to ensuring that our beautiful national infrastructures are well protected

“We would also like to assure Nigerians that under my leadership in the ministry of interior would not rest on our promise of taking a clue from the zeal, determination, and commitment of the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we would ensure that the renewed hope finds its foot in the ministry of interior, and Nigerians will be proud of this administration.

“I am here to help the ministry take its rightful place as the mother hen of providing direction and I cannot afford to let Mr. President fails Nigerians.”