₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has cleared a debt of over ₦20bn and resolved a backlog of more than 200,000 passport applications inherited before the Bola Tinubu administration assumed office.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of a new Passport Front Office under the Ministry.

He said the reforms, driven by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, have also led to the issuance of over 3.5 million passports in less than two years.

“When we came in, there was a backlog of over 200,000 passports and nearly ₦20 billion in debt. Today, that backlog has been cleared, and the debt has been settled,” the minister said.

Out of the total passports issued since August 2023, 3,080,141 were processed locally, while 466,117 were issued in the diaspora—bringing the total to 3,546,258.

The minister attributed the success to sweeping reforms that also helped the government save over ₦1 billion annually.

He said a key move was the full automation of breeder document uploads, birth and marriage certificates, among others, which previously incurred huge costs through third-party contractors.

“This is a major reform. We no longer pay contractors for what Nigerians can upload themselves. That money stays with government now,” Tunji-Ojo said.

As part of efforts to enhance accessibility and security, the number of centres issuing enhanced e-passports has increased from 26 to 44 across Nigeria and from five to 47 in the diaspora.

All passport offices now issue harmonised, ICAO-compliant enhanced passports, replacing the previously inconsistent system that undermined Nigeria’s global credibility.

The minister also announced the upcoming launch of a central passport personalisation centre with state-of-the-art technology in August 2025.

The facility, funded by Iris Smart Technologies at no cost to the government, is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s passport infrastructure.

Additionally, he said the country has joined the International Civil Aviation Organization Public Key Directory, enabling global authentication of Nigerian passports.

Reinforcing the government’s commitment to digital transformation and national security, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that beginning July 31, all applications for Special Expatriate Permits and Temporary Work Permits must be processed online.

“Manual processing will no longer be allowed. We must have the data, biometrics, and documentation of every applicant for national security,” he said.

The reforms, the minister noted, are aimed at delivering transparent, secure, and citizen-friendly services while eliminating waste and inefficiencies within the system.

https://punchng.com/fg-clears-%e2%82%a620bn-passport-debt-issues-over-3-5-million-passports/

Oga, stop this cheap lie. For crying out loud, Nigerians pay for their passports before issuance. If you came in and saw a debt of #20 billion, why didn't you use the DSS to pick Aregbesola up so he would vomit the money?

What is it with this people like haven't they done enough enough


Clear this clear that

Yet coast no de clear

This minister is the best innovative minister in this current government. His impacts are felt in the ministry, I won't lie.

Commendable.

Everyone can attest to the fact that the ministry of interior is doing great, at least with passport issue.

Give them their flowers.

They ve been running up and down for accountability since yesterday because of fear of ADC and angry Nigerians.

Even on their accountability still smells propaganda🤣

Problem solved, next?. Let's be doing it, let's progress.

Now this is progress, this is intellect that is typical of president Tinubu.
The interventions of the president are necessary. However, the North would ride on the gullibility of their people who do not know economics. They only understand "rice is now 80k, Fuel 900" without understanding the effects of dollar subsidy removal or fuel subsidy removal amongst others. That is why their leaders have deliberately left them unexposed and uneducated so they use them anyhow. Those from the otherside, that truly understand to a certain degree are blinded by tribal sentiments. Anyway, the Jagaban is on seat and that seat is his until 2031. Trust me, he knows how to keep it.

SmartPolician:
Oga, stop this cheap lie. For crying out loud, Nigerians pay for their passports before issuance. If you came in and saw a debt of #20 billion, why didn't you use the DSS to pick Aregbesola up so he would vomit the money?

Because that is not how the debt probably worked.

When the contract was signed, there either was

1. A promise to pay in the future...which was kicked on to the next government

2. Or, the cost of production rose in the process,

3. Or the previous government paid part of the money and left the rest for the incoming government.

Passport application is now done online and you can pay to get it delivered to your doorstep. Sanity has retured back to MMIA, the best minister so far.

SmartPolician:
Oga, stop this cheap lie. For crying out loud, Nigerians pay for their passports before issuance. If you came in and saw a debt of #20 billion, why didn't you use the DSS to pick Aregbesola up so he would vomit the money?

Sometimes you just have to keep quiet if you don't understand the topic, having an opinion on everything can make you look stupid sometimes.

Donchieli:
What is it with this people like haven't they done enough enough


Clear this clear that

Yet coast no de clear

If you want a prosperous economy, vote out APC, vote out Obi, and atiku, and PDP, and vote a government that is commited to industrialization and the development of an economy that is not reliant on oil.

And stop voting for a government that shares money too.

This Minister of Interior is really working.. this is the kind of person we should consider for President in the near future, not all the 'old youths' disturbing our political space.

SmartPolician:
Oga, stop this cheap lie. For crying out loud, Nigerians pay for their passports before issuance. If you came in and saw a debt of #20 billion, why didn't you use the DSS to pick Aregbesola up so he would vomit the money?

Did he say Nigerians didn't pay for their passports? 😒

When they use contractors to upload data & print passports, a lot can happen in the process, delayed payments can become debts for the successive government and that's probably what happened.

Nigerian Immigration Service hitherto has been notorious for corruption and bribery. They treat passport applicants like slaves. But thank God for this man.

N20,000,000,000 debt for passport?
N20,000,000,000 ÷ 200,000,000 population is = N100,000.
Assuming 200,000,000 Nigerians apply for passport. But less than ten million Nigerians must have sought for Nigeria passport.

This man should be minister of passport. He's only in the news for passports and nothing else 🤣

Slytiger:
https://punchng.com/fg-clears-%e2%82%a620bn-passport-debt-issues-over-3-5-million-passports/

God bless president Tinubu
God bless Nigeria

We will get there gradually

Imagine can a passport be given for free at imigration office, my people will say! olee gbee ,olee gbaa

SmartPolician:
Oga, stop this cheap lie. For crying out loud, Nigerians pay for their passports before issuance. If you came in and saw a debt of #20 billion, why didn't you use the DSS to pick Aregbesola up so he would vomit the money?

Georgry:
Sometimes you just have to keep quiet if you don't understand the topic, having an opinion on everything can make you look stupid sometimes.

How did this nonsense you wrote counter the point I raised?

blackgold2018:
They ve been running up and down for accountability since yesterday because of fear of ADC and angry Nigerians.

Even on their accountability still smells propaganda🤣

The question is,has there been any improvement in passport issuance,the answer is yes therefore you should give them their flowers.....that's fare enough.

OK


so where those who applied for the passport not paying or what ?


how come about the dept .


we don't understand ,


Princess Faith Chukwuamaka

bigtt76:
This man should be minister of passport. He's only in the news for passports and nothing else 🤣

yes,since they are not giving you free food,but it is not their fault cos it is you that refuse to go and live in he IDP camp.you can’t sit in your house and expect them to come and serve you free food.better still you can just commit a criminal offence so you can go to jail and see if he is doing well in the correctional centers too since you may not have the opportunity to join the customs or immigration.

SmartPolician:
Oga, stop this cheap lie. For crying out loud, Nigerians pay for their passports before issuance. If you came in and saw a debt of #20 billion, why didn't you use the DSS to pick Aregbesola up so he would vomit the money?

This are the kind of empty mentality that has reduced the real aim of nairaland, He didn't even have a deep thought to what the contract could have been, or rise in production cost that was paid by FG than excess price increments,
How this kind of people are not employable

Nice, Tinubu interior minister is trying not the nonsense aregbesola

onuman:
N20,000,000,000 debt for passport?
N20,000,000,000 ÷ 200,000,000 population is = N100,000.
Assuming 200,000,000 Nigerians apply for passport. But less than ten million Nigerians must have sought for Nigeria passport.

Not ₦100, 000 but #100 ... that's the result of ₦20billions divided by ₦200millions

lies upon lies, this people are so evil. Never pay any online fee for your passport. simply go to Immigration office and do the needful. this tinubu boys are big time scammers. they scammed me 120k and has never paid me back.

dgbanj:
This minister is the best innovative minister in this current government. His impacts are felt in the ministry, I won't lie.

and you know this because you work there or someone told you?

Aregbesola come and see ur mate. Clueless Aregberascal, a failure personified.