Tunji-Ojo directs NIS on use of tech to hasten process
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Interior Minister Bunmi Tunji-Ojo has directed Nigeria Immigration Service acting Comptroller General Carol Wura-Ola to devise measures to decongest passport collection centres, saying President Bola Tinubu will not tolerate excuses and endless queues for the document.
He also charged heads of the service arms of the ministry to walk their talk because Nigeria is at a critical point and in dire need of transformation by a new administration eager for tangible results and not excuses.
A statement issued by Tunji-Ojo’s Chief Press Secretary Babatunde Alao quoted him as giving the directive when he received briefings from Wura-Ola and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) Controller General Haliru Nababa.
“I am just returning from a meeting with the President. He is not interested in excuses. We must work and deliver. Anyone who cannot help Nigeria to record progress must be kicked out because we can actually be great,” Tuni-Ojo said.
“Let me know your challenges. I am here to help you solve them. When you solve them and record successes, I am also successful. The time of talks is gone. So, keep your talk. Let us discuss solutions.
“Nigerians should not have to queue endlessly to get passports. No, this must stop. This is not the Nigeria of our dream. I need to know the challenges the agency is facing.
“We must all come together to deploy and invest our expertise to resolve them. Nigerians will take us up on our promises. If we have officers who are not ready for this rigorous process, we will excuse them.”
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Actions to deliver value, growth
Tunji-Ojo reminded the agency heads the new administration is not interested in talks and essay presentations, but actions to deliver value and growth, according to reporting by Vanguard.
“Talks have not taken us anywhere as a nation. We must get it right. The Ministry of Interior is the heart of any nation. I want you to return to your tables and bring up action plans. It is my job to ensure the ministry is working.”
He also underscored the importance of leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy in the Immigration and Correctional Services.
He said the implementation of advanced technological solutions will significantly reduce delays and streamline the handling of challenges.
“Technology has the potential to revolutionise our immigration and correctional systems, making them more agile and responsive.
“For all I care, we need to embrace innovation and find ways to overcome the current challenges that often lead to bottlenecks in our processes. Our country is a great and important country. Let us live up to expectations.”