Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has expressed his displeasure at how Nigerians “queue endlessly” at passport offices nationwide to get their passport.
Tunji-Ojo raised the observation while meeting with the comptroller general of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola, and the controller general of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, in Abuja, on Tuesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The minister said immigration is a critical sector in the country that needs technological transformation, adding that service should ordinarily live up to Nigerians’ expectations.
He explained that implementing technological solutions could help reduce delays and streamline handling critical challenges in the immigration service.
He said, “I have just returned 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 will be kicked out because we can be great.
“Let me know your challenges. I am here to help you solve it. When you solve it and record success, I am also successful. The time of talks is gone. So, keep your talk. Let’s provide solutions.
“Nigerians should not have to queue endlessly to get passports. No, this must stop. This is not the Nigeria of our dreams. 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.
“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.”
