forgiveness:


Mind your business sincce you lack comprehension skills.

Where did you see passport is applied at the border in my write up? You bi olodo.

Then Stay in what the caption says . The policy for immigration officers at the borders is under way. So calm down.

forgiveness:
Hon. Minister, is it possible to pass the boarder without human contact? Because those shameless immigration forcefully collect money to stamp your passport to go out and even enter your own country.

In fact, all the agencies at the boarded collects money from Nigerians and even Africans.

Is it also possible to rearrange the clearance of containers at the ports and borders? Because the agent use this opportunity to exploit importers which results to inflation.

They will never allow you to know the real fee of the shipping company, terminal and custom clearance because importers are not allowed generate the invoice by themselves except through the agents.

I will advise that it be mandated that invoice must be sent to owners directly through email and owners should pay directly into the government account with the name the importer used to import into Nigeria.

That will reduce inflation because some agent with the collaboration of customs wants to make between 1.5m - 2m naira on importation of just one car alone besides others fees.

The owners of these cars wouldn't want to loose money hence add the agent 2m, other fees and his own profits on the vehicle making it extremely expensive. This is where inflation is also coming from.

Owners must be involved in direct payment of imported goods. Assigning this to agent tantamount to being exploited.

Hon minister of Interior, you can do it, sir.

Do they apply passport at the border? The caption is straight forward and easy to grap, why Re you stressing yourself

insidelife22:
He seems to be true to his calling.

💯😂😆

In the labyrinth of Nigeria’s political landscape, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has emerged as a beacon of transformative leadership under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Since assuming the role of Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo has orchestrated a symphony of unprecedented reforms, deftly steering various agencies under his purview towards a brighter horizon.

An accomplished business magnate and consultant with a robust background in ICT, Tunji-Ojo’s multifaceted expertise has illuminated the corridors of the Ministry of Interior. His stewardship encapsulates a tapestry of achievements across various sectors, marked by a resolute commitment to enhancing efficiency, professionalism, and progressive change


Beyond this, Tunji-Ojo’s visionary directives have heralded a new era of efficiency and service delivery. He pledged to revolutionize passport processing, promising a two-week timeline and the introduction of home and office delivery of passports, commencing in February 2024. His initiative to implement personal uploads of passport photographs further streamlines the application process, fostering convenience and accessibility.

Tunji-Ojo’s proactive stance on international relations demonstrates his commitment to reciprocity in visa processes, challenging inequitable privileges granted to foreign nationals while championing the rights of Nigerian applicants. The minister’s Midas touch extends to the welfare of paramilitary officers. He advocates equitable compensation and initiated plans for a functional pension board, boosting morale and productivity within the ranks. His efforts signify a pivotal step towards aligning paramilitary salaries with those of the Nigeria Police Force, ensuring fairness and equity.

Furthermore, Tunji-Ojo’s resolve to decongest correctional facilities through the clearance of fines and compensations worth N585 million for 4,068 inmates showcase his compassionate approach to criminal justice reform. His dedication to transforming correctional homes into centers of rehabilitation signifies a paradigm shift from punitive measures to holistic rehabilitation, fostering hope and redemption. In recognition of his sterling performances, he was awarded the Public Service Person Of The Year 2023 by Leadership Newspaper.

According to the Leadership Newspaper, he was found worthy for finding his way into the hearts of millions of citizens for whom obtaining or renewing the Nigerian passport had become a nightmare; for his bold, extensive and exceptional reforms tackling the perennial passport booklet debacle at the Nigeria Immigration Service, in less than five weeks into his assumption of office, a stride which earned him the sobriquet “Minister Talk And Do”, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is Public Servant of the Year 2023.

In tandem with these accomplishments, Tunji-Ojo’s engagement with agencies, stakeholders, and international partners underscores his commitment to tackling illegal migration and organized crime, ensuring a safer and more secure nation. As the year draws to a close, Tunji-Ojo’s tenure as Minister of Interior stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication and transformative leadership. His accomplishments in a relatively short span resonate as a prelude to greater strides in the coming year. With his sterling performances thus far, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is poised to elevate the Ministry of Interior to greater heights, fortifying the nation’s security and amplifying its role in shaping a brighter future for Nigeria.

•Salako is Media Consultant to the Minister of Interior

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/tunji-ojo-as-minister-of-the-year-2023/amp/

He's a typical EPL obidient

Difficult To Accept ~ Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

https://twitter.com/BTOofficial/status/1740060072951337107?t=9jIy96T61BKFWKOpKn4PBw&s=19

I can execute this with 18m

For real

Nigerians have taken to social media to appraise the good works of the Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his outstanding performances since his appointment.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Ministers in August, and many of them have swung into action but Tunji-Ojo stands out due to his impactful achievements such as clearance of passport backlogs, clearance of NIN backlog modifications, prison decongestion, e-gate in one of the international airports, etc.

On X, formerly Twitter, Eniola tweeted: “Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo came to national politics underrated but with the little time spent as the Minister of Interior, he has proved that some big wigs are just overrated. “Thank you for changing the narrative and giving the youth a new perspective,” he added.

On Facebook, Bright Okuta commented “Tinubu’s Interior minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is perhaps the only performing government official in this administration. He embodies competence, dedication and commitment. A worthy pick,” he concluded.

Ben Ovo, X user noted, “Some of us have forgotten who a public servant is, but thanks to the minister of interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for bringing back to our consciousness what it means to be a public servant. Thank you sir for your commitment and resilience towards positive change.”

Similarly, AbuAbdulHameed7 said, “One of the most visionary and impactful ministers in PBAT administration is Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the interior minister. What he has done so far has shown us that indeed Nigeria will be great and will prosper. We have never had a minister like him; selfless and a believer of a greater Nigeria.”

Okani Evelyn echoes a similar notion, “Meet the most hardworking, most disciplined minister in this administration so far. Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has since his day of appointment proved to us that his not here to play. He has made me believe personally that Nigeria can be great again. Thank you, Honourable Minister, Sir.”





Nkemdili Ofor on X praised the minister, “If competent was human, it would be you. You have raised the standards so high. Thank you for being so passionate and intentional about our country.”

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Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is my Minister of the Year

Tanimola Omotayo opined, “There is a man who is making us believe that the system can work and the name of that man is Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo He is a beacon of hope to the masses. BTO shall succeed and this brings us to the saying “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

Olanrawaju Yetunde on Facebook said, “The Minister of Interior holds a special place in my regard. His consistent dedication and tireless efforts toward enhancing the interior dynamics of our nation have been truly remarkable. His unwavering commitment to improving systems and ensuring the well-being of our citizens resonates deeply with me. I find inspiration in his leadership style, which exudes confidence and a strong vision for a better tomorrow. His initiatives and proactive approach to governance reflect a genuine passion for positive change, instilling a renewed sense of hope for progress and development in our country. I deeply appreciate the Minister’s unwavering dedication and the impactful strides he’s making in shaping a brighter future for all.”


In a similar Facebook post, Adeyemi Oluwasholape appreciates the minister’s spirit of getting the job done, “To the Interior Minister Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo. I sincerely appreciate your commitment and doggedness toward the development of this great nation, I am not one of those who go about hyping politicians but I must confess that your kind is rare. We need more of your kind in the political space to make Nigeria the home we all yearn to have. I pray for you today that your wishes will come through, your aura will be contagious in this administration, and through you, this country will breathe a good breath.”

Another Facebook user, Oladapo Babatunde Aborowa pointed out Tunji-Ojo’s dedication to national development, “Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, stands as a prominent advocate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. His unwavering dedication makes him a valuable gift from PBAT to Nigerians. It’s a privilege to work alongside such commitment. His dedication is a gift to Nigerians, and it’s truly an honour and privilege to work alongside him.”

There are some reforms Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has planned for execution in 2024 by the instructions of President Bola Tinubu such as passport delivery at door steps of the applicants; Nigerians will have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice, establishments and rehabilitation of more prisons and barracks for the correctional workers, as well as further decongestion of the facilities, deployment of technology in our land borders because a safer border is a safer nation, adoption of reciprocity in issuing visas to foreigners seeking to enter our country and others.


https://thenationonlineng.net/olubunmi-tunji-ojo-beacon-of-hope-for-youths-nigerians-react/#google_vignette

Nigerians have taken to social media to appraise the good work of the Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for his outstanding performances since his appointment.
President Bola Tinubu appointed ministers in August, and many of them have swung into action but Tunji-Ojo stands out due to his impactful achievements such as clearance of passport backlogs, clearance of NIN backlog modifications, prison decongestion, e-gate in one of the international airports, etc.

On X, formerly Twitter, Eniola tweeted, “Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo came to national politics underrated but with the little time spent as the Minister of Interior, he has proved that some big wigs are just overrated. “Thank you for changing the narrative and giving the youth a new perspective,” he added.

On Facebook, Bright Okuta commented “Tinubu’s Interior minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is perhaps the only performing government official in this administration. He embodies competence, dedication and commitment. A worthy pick,” he concluded.

Ben Ovo, X user noted, “Some of us have forgotten who a public servant is, but thanks to the minister of interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for bringing back to our consciousness what it means to be a public servant. Thank you sir for your commitment and resilience towards positive change.


Similarly, AbuAbdulHameed7 said, “One of the most visionary and impactful ministers in PBAT administration is Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the interior minister. What he has done so far has shown us that indeed Nigeria will be great and will prosper. We have never had a minister like him; selfless and a believer of a greater Nigeria.”


Okani Evelyn echoes a similar notion, “Meet the most hardworking, most disciplined minister in this administration so far. Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has since his day of appointment proved to us that his not here to play. He has made me believe personally that Nigeria can be great again. Thank you, Honourable Minister, Sir.”

Nkemdili Ofor on X praised the minister, “If competent was human, it would be you. You have raised the standards so high. Thank you for being so passionate and intentional about our country.”

Tanimola Omotayo opined, “There is a man who is making us believe that the system can work and the name of that man is Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo He is a beacon of hope to the masses. BTO shall succeed and this brings us to the saying “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

Olanrawaju Yetunde on Facebook said, “The Minister of Interior holds a special place in my regard. His consistent dedication and tireless efforts toward enhancing the interior dynamics of our nation have been truly remarkable. His unwavering commitment to improving systems and ensuring the well-being of our citizens resonates deeply with me. I find inspiration in his leadership style, which exudes confidence and a strong vision for a better tomorrow. His initiatives and proactive approach to governance reflect a genuine passion for positive change, instilling a renewed sense of hope for progress and development in our country. I deeply appreciate the Minister’s unwavering dedication and the impactful strides he’s making in shaping a brighter future for all.”

In a similar Facebook post, Adeyemi Oluwasholape appreciates the minister’s spirit of getting the job done, “To the Interior Minister Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo. I sincerely appreciate your commitment and doggedness toward the development of this great nation, I am not one of those who go about hyping politicians but I must confess that your kind is rare. We need more of your kind in the political space to make Nigeria the home we all yearn to have. I pray for you today that your wishes will come through, your aura will be contagious in this administration, and through you, this country will breathe a good breath.”

Chronicle NG reports that Nigeria newspaper, Leadership named Tunji-Ojo the 2023 Public Service Person of the Year


https://www.chronicle.ng/2023/12/tunji-ojo-beacon-of-hope-youths-nigerians/

Interesting read

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, has ordered the probe of some officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) over alleged misconduct.

On December 12, Moyo Okediji, a professor of African art from the University of Texas, Austin, United States, took to his Facebook page to recount how he was “extorted and robbed” of over $500 at Seme border when he arrived Nigeria through Ghana.

Okediji said some NIS personnel stopped him for a search and asked him to “settle” them with $40 for travelling with an expired Nigerian passport.

Okediji said he handed them the money but later found out that $500 was missing from his luggage


The professor said he was also harassed and his documents seized by some police officers when he arrived at Mile 2, FESTAC axis of Amuwo-Odofin LGA, Lagos on the same day.

In a statement on Saturday by Aridegbe Adedotun, NIS spokesperson, the agency will implement some changes at the borders to ensure smooth operations.

Caroline Adepoju, NIS comptroller-general, said the minister of interior was “displeased with the alleged unprofessional activities at the Seme border” and has ordered that immediate action be taken to fish out the culprits.

She said if the allegations are proven to be true, the affected officials will face “severe consequences”.

The CG added that she would personally oversee the implementation of the changes at the borders to address any shortcomings.

“The CGI expresses her dismay at the alleged behavior and wants to assure the public that immediate steps are being taken to investigate the matter thoroughly. The NIS is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service to the nation,” the statement reads.

“In response to these allegations, the NIS is implementing changes at our borders to ensure the smooth passage of migrants without compromising national security. The Comptroller General is personally overseeing these changes to address any shortcomings and to reinforce a culture of accountability within the Service.

https://www.thecable.ng/tunji-ojo-orders-probe-of-officials-at-seme-border-over-misconduct/amp

Cc mynd44 lalasticlala seun

Powerful Quotes by Hon Minister of interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Happy 81st Birthday Your Excellency @MBuhari !!!
May God grant you even longer life, good health, peace and joy in Jesus Mighty Name Amen.

https:///ProfOsinbajo/status/1736290140346053022?t=ui0Ek4g2Yi86ePIKzU1eEw&s=08

Presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in the lead up to the 2023 presidential election have agreed to float a forum to mobilize support for President Bola Tinubu as part of measures to tackle the challenges confronting the nation.


They have consequently dropped any presidential ambition ahead of 2027.

Some of the APC presidential aspirants in the last election are former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ahmad Sani Yarima, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Nicolas Felix, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Gov. Yahaya Bello, Engr. Dave Umahi, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Senators Ahmad Lawan and Godswill Akpabio among others.

Convener and Acting Chairman of the Forum, Senator Yarima as well as APC’s youngest presidential presidential aspirant, Dr Nicholas Felix disclosed this in a statement issued Saturday in Abuja.

… fix dinner for Monday
To this end, the aspirants have fixed an end of year dinner for Monday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja where the forum will be officially inaugurated.

In the aftermath of the APC presidential primary election, there were reports that a few of the aspirants had decided to not support the party’s candidate, Tinubu, who later emerged as president.

Meanwhile, Yarima and Felix in the statement said; “Today, as a people and country, we are faced with myriads of socio-economic problems and we believe that we can only surmount them when we come together, irrespective of our religious, ethnic and even political differences to face these challenges head on.

“It is therefore on this premise that all the Candidates in the 2023 APC Presidential primary have decided to come together under one umbrella to mobilise support for our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Renewed Hope Administration playing advisory role to enable him succeed and transform this great nation.

“Basically, the objective of the forum is to ensure that we come together solidly to support President Tinubu’s administration having surrendered all our individual interests and collapsed same to support the emergence of President Tinubu.

“As critical stakeholders, we have decided that it is not not enough to sit back behind the scenes but to come out and mobilise support for the government’s policies and programmes.

Objectives
“This forum from time to time will play an intermediary role of ensuring that all the policies and programmes of the government are well disseminated down to the people especially the grassroots.

“To fully stay on track, the forum will push to constantly have direct engagements with the President as a way of feedback mechanism and at same time, render possible advice where necessary.

“This forum will leverage on our individual and collective international contacts to ensure that the Nigerians in diaspora are adequately informed and mobilised to giving the President a rousing welcome. We will always go ahead and to make adequate preparations in this regards.

“Also, this forum will be there as rallying point for all former presidential candidates in the February 2023 presidential election.


“Finally, we want to thank all Nigerians and crave for patience with strong convictions that the President relying on his vast experience and antecedents is working very hard to turn the fortunes of the country around,” the statement added.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/osinbajo-amaechi-yarima-others-drop-ambition-float-support-forum-for-tinubu/amp/

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, and Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are billed to speak at the public presentation of a book titled “APC and Transitional Politics” on December 19.

Bisi Akande, a former national chairman of the APC, is also expected to speak at the event that will take place in Abuja.

The book is authored by Salihu Lukman, immediate-past vice-chairman of the APC in the north-west.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Lukman said the book is a reminder to APC leaders and members about the value and the struggle to get the party to where it is currently.


We must not because today Asiwaju is the president of the federal republic of Nigeria assuming that we have achieved, no we have to continue to struggle,” he said.

“And for me, as far as I am concerned, Asiwaju is like any one of us, he is a human being. He has his strengths, he has his limitations.

“So we must remain committed so that when we see he’s not doing the right thing we draw his attention



A situation where all of us become sycophantic and everything he does is right. We must not get to that.

“So that is one of the important things I want to say. Which is why I said we are setting the stage for reflection. We’re about to start with let’s say rebellion, if something is not done and this is the honest truth.

“So whatever anybody close to the president should be telling him, let him hear the real story. Life is difficult. People who ordinarily should not be struggling for food are today struggling for food.

“I believe Asiwaju is a committed democrat and he is a progressive politician. And I believe he will have no difficulty relating with the issues I am raising


Chief Bisi Akande has done everything for me. He did not only write the foreword of the book, he has committed himself to physically be present to chair the session. And I know with Chief Bisi Akande chairing the session every leader of the party will respect it.

“The former national chairman, Chief Oyegun has agreed. I am yet to sit down with Comrade Adams. I’m going to sit down with him and I’m confident and very hopeful he will agree to be there.”

Lukman added that some leaders of the party have agreed to attend the event.


https://www.thecable.ng/shettima-osinbajo-ganduje-to-speak-at-salihu-lukmans-book-launch-on-dec-19/amp

Cc mynd44 lalasticlala seun

For finding his way into the hearts of millions of citizens for whom obtaining or renewing the Nigerian passport had become a nightmare; for his bold, extensive and exceptional reforms tackling the perennial passport booklet debacle at the Nigeria Immigration Service, in less than five weeks into his assumption of office, a stride which earned him the sobriquet “Minister Talk And Do”, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is Public Servant of the Year 2023.



Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, was a seasoned business executive and consultant with over 17 years of extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He excelled particularly in project, policy and strategic management.

Riding on the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Tunji-Ojo, whose ministry oversees the affairs of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), the Federal Fire Service (FFS), and the Civil Defence, Corrections, Immigration and Fire Service Board (CDCIFB), has no doubt distinguished himself as a stellar politician and public administrator with capacity to lead others to achieve admirable results.

Despite the challenges he met on ground, Dr Tunji-Ojo has been resolute in his zeal to move the Ministry of Interior beyond the stage his predecessors left it, and break new grounds.

On his orders, NIS recorded the now celebrated record-breaking clearance of 204,332 passports backlog, which, until his directive, was a gross national crisis. It was the highest clearance ever recorded in its 60 years of existence, just within three weeks.

The 41-year-old Tunji-Ojo started his tertiary education at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, before moving to the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University) where he studied Electronics and Communication Engineering and graduated in 2005. He obtained a master’s degree in Digital Communication and Networking from the same institution in 2006.

Dr Tunji-Ojo is an accomplished business and management executive with a flourishing career in ICT and who grew to become the CEO of a leading indigenous ICT consultant company in Nigeria, Matrix IT Solutions Limited, at the age of 24. As a professional, he holds 18 professional qualifications in ICT such as Ethical Hacking and Counter Measures. He is also a certified CompTIA Network Plus engineer and a Britannia Hardware A+ Management Certificate holder, among others


Before his foray into politics, he consulted for the World Bank and several government agencies, including the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), National Health Insurance Scheme, and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

However, despite the universal accolades and commendations he got for pulling off a seemingly difficult task at the NIS, the go-getter, who has brought professionalism, political sagacity and his wealth of experience from the public/private sector to bear on his new tasks, remains one of the eggheads in President Tinubu’s government that Nigerians look up to for bringing forth the radical changes expected in the new administration.


He has, among other strides, announced a two-week timeline for processing of passport applications, promised the commencement of home and office delivery of passports to applicants from February 2024, threatened to commence the execution of the principle of reciprocity in international relations by halting the visa-on-arrival privilege granted foreign nationals whose countries subject Nigerians to rigorous visa application processes, commenced personal upload of passport photographs on NIS passport application portal, as well as established more e-passport offices in Europe.


A man with the Midas’ touch, Tunji-Ojo has within two months in office led the advocacy for fair compensation for paramilitary officers, insisting that their salaries must align with those of the Nigeria Police Force personnel. He also commenced arrangements to set up a functional pension board for paramilitary personnel as a mechanism to secure their future. All this will no doubt improve staff morale and lead to greater output.

No doubt, Tunji-Ojo has proven bookmakers right — that he is more than equal to the task of reshaping the ministry of interior, elevating its role in securing the nation’s well-being, and fortifying the nation’s extensive borders.

A man of his words, Dr Tunji-Ojo again, on November 18, 2023, lived up to his promise to, within four weeks, clear fines and compensations worth N585 million for 4,068 inmates nationwide on account of their inability to pay their fines as penalties for crimes committed, all in an effort at prison decongestion.

The minister, often hailed for drawing clear targets and upholding a definitive timeline of action, is at the verge of transforming correctional homes into centres of rehabilitation rather than condemnation.

He has also within this period engaged with all relevant agencies, stakeholders and international partners to discuss critical areas of reforms to tackle illegal migration, counter organised crimes as well as out-think and stay ahead of criminals.

Between August 21 and today, the operational capacities of the NSCDC, FFS and NCoS have witnessed massive improvements on his watch.

https://leadership.ng/leadership-awards-dr-olubunmi-tunji-ojo-is-public-service-person-of-the-year-2023/#:~:text=Dr%20Olubunmi%20Tunji%2DOjo%2C%20the,project%2C%20policy%20and%20strategic%20management.

RepoMan007:
This guy is always talking about himself. Perform and stop threatening us to.

Show us where he talk about himself. We know your type actually

Just continue to try and put in your best. No luz focuz 😆

[/b]How I disciplined visa processing officer caught watching BBNaija on duty – Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo [b]


The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed how he disciplined a visa processing officer who was caught watching popular reality TV show, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) while on duty at the airport.

Tunji-Ojo made this revelation in an undated video which has now gone viral on X (formerly Twitter).


He said, “With the work we’re doing presently, anyone coming into the country will see the changes, especially in how our officials relate to you at the airport.

“Two weeks ago, when I was returning from Italy, some officials rushed to help with my bag, which I refused.

“I then proceeded to the Visa on Arrival section (unannounced) to have a first-hand look at their operation.

“On getting there, I saw many individuals in the queue, all waiting to get a visa into the country, and they were not attended to.

“I walked up to one official to see what was happening, only to discover the official was watching Big Brother Naija on the system that was meant for the issuance of visas. Immediately, I asked that the person be redeployed to another section.” He said

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/how-i-disciplined-visa-officer-caught-watching-bbnaija-on-duty-minister/

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has expressed determination of the ministry to partner with the Nigerian Security Print and Minting PLC on the domestication of specific operations within the ministry.

The Minister stated this on Tuesday during his visit to the company’s head office in Abuja.

The Minister and members of his team were received by the Managing Director, Mr. Ahmed Halilu.


Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior, Alao Babatunde in a statement noted that after taking a tour of the facility, the minister assured the company of his readiness to work with the team.

“In the era of the #RenewedHope under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the saying that government’s business is nobody’s business is gone. In fact, government’s business is now everybody’s business —it is your business, my business, and our business,” he said.

“I am more comfortable with government business being handled by government agencies. With the level of investment and the fantastic goodwill at your disposal, there is absolutely no reason why we should not break even.

Explaining that the nation needs every citizen to align with the interest of the nation, Tunji-Ojo said that it is critical to place the country’s interest above board, and ensure that national security is not compromised on the altar of personal interest.

“For me as the Minister of Interior, the only interest I have in government is Nigeria’s interest. And, because of this, I have had to make some tough decisions.

“The private sector must run business, but, of course, there are certain businesses that should go beyond the purview of the private sector for the purpose of national security. However, the issue of domestication will only be determined by capacity and ambition.”

Also, speaking during the meeting, the Managing Director acknowledged the “impressive records and achievements” of the Minister since taking over the helms of affairs of the ministry.

“Across the country, we all can testify to your good work and achievements. At this point, everyone wants to associate with you. I would like to convey our highest regards to you, Honourable Minister.

“The NSPMC management is hopeful that partnering with your ministry will help us grow beyond our current capacity as we look to serve both public and private sector clients

https://tribuneonlineng.com/interior-ministry-seeks-collaboration-with-nspmc/#google_vignette

Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson and veteran journalist has urged the Federal Government to prioritize tackling the lingering problem of procurement and pricing in…


Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson and veteran journalist has urged the Federal Government to prioritize tackling the lingering problem of procurement and pricing in Nigeria’s budget in order for government to deliver benefits to Nigerians.

Akande, who was analysing the 2024 Budget Proposal on Sunrise Daily on Friday explained that the process of line-item budget allocation in the year-on-year budgetary system should be reviewed to aid the government in reducing its spending.

The former editor noted that the inflation of government pricing of budget items has been a bottleneck amidst scarce resources.

Akande identified four crisis that the Nigerian government should quickly address. They are (i) fiscal vs debt; (ii) procurement and pricing (iii) Food crisis and inflation and (iv) government insensitivity.

Asked to explain why line items like furniture and vehicles reoccur in the budget every year, he said, “I remember that one of the first things the Buhari administration did in 2015 was to try and change the culture or the process of how the budget is developed. So you have two options. The first option which is prevalent most of the time is that the line items are essentially treated as routine-Envelope budget
system- this was what we did last year, this was what we did two years ago – and it’s just pushed again with a little bit of review at times looking at the changes in the pricing and stuff like that.

For the most part, compared to a system where we are trying to say let us start afresh-Zero Budgeting-ie where we say let’s take a fresh look at what is it that money should be spent on, that was critical then because the past administration was trying to shift the focus into putting more money into the issue of human capital development.”

Quizzed on the success rate of budget concepts – envelope system vs the zero budgeting system during the Buhari administration, he stated that, “There was a bit of pushback when they wanted to move to that zero budgeting, to say that look let’s just start afresh from scratch. It got a bit of resistance, I think both systemic and I think there wasn’t sufficient political will to push the zero budgeting concept, that was what happened.

“To your question, there are quite a few things that one sees in this interesting budget, that are good. The government is trying to make a good attempt to reduce the deficit, a significant cut, from 6% to 3%, very important.


Explaining the pros and cons of the 2024 budget, Akande highlighted the following. “There is a clear attempt to spend more money on human capital development – education and health (in 2 trillion, 1 trillion) quite important. There is also the effort and the statement of the president that say let us do more of private public partnership, especially in the areas of critical infrastructure.

“You see all of those good things, but the problem here is that I see four levels of crisis that we are dealing with which requires us to be even more deliberate in terms of what we are dealing with. We have the fiscal crisis, there’s a fiscal crisis on this end and there’s a debt crisis on so this end, on two different levels, so we need to raise more money and it’s a crisis. If we can raise more money, then the issue of the looming debt can begin to simmer down.


“That’s a big one and I think the President (Tinubu) seems to have some kind of experience based on what happened in Lagos. That’s going to be one element to measure the seriousness and the success or the failure of this government, the ability to raise more money. And like I said, I think he has some good record in that. That’s the first crisis, the second crisis is the food crisis (inflation crisis).

“Just like Rewane said, if people cannot find a positive impact as soon as possible something has to be done in a very radical way to address the food crisis, the inflation of the basic food stock that people eat is very, very critical. I don’t see a lot of the specific action that will be taken and I hope that will be coming forth.

Detailing the third crisis, Akande urged Tinubu to focus more on correcting the lapses in procurement. “The third crisis is the procurement crisis, now this is a big deal and we have not talked enough about it. We have a system where they bring the line items, the pricing that the government brings is outrageous. I find it outrageous in my eight years of experience. So you want to build a borehole, if I wanted to build a borehole I would probably get it done for N600,000 or less but guess when the government comes it puts a price tag of N5 million on the same borehole, we understand that there has to be some kind of markup but that culture is becoming so insensitive considering what the Nigerian people are going through.


“There has to be a very, very good look at this procurement issue. The other problem with procurement is that it causes delays when you need to get things done very quickly and I see that the president has set up a committee that is going to be chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation to try and look at this procurement stuff and I think they should pay attention to the pricing its a scandal the kind pricing that happens,” Akande said.


https://dailytrust.com/2024-budget-govt-must-tackle-food-fiscal-debt-procurement-crisis-laolu-akande/

Photos

Minister of interior commissioned the Arrival "E" of Murtala Mohammed International Airport and the remodeled main entrance/exit gate and Quarter Guard at the Zone ‘A’ Headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Yesterday in Lagos, I attended the handover of the remodeled clearance counters and refurbished Arrival "E" of Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

The project, undertaken by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), underscores the importance of partnership with the private sector.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

The Federal Government has announced the promotion of over 32,300 personnel across all cadres and ranks in its para-military Services.

The Services are the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS) and the Federal Fire Service, (FFS)

Announcing the promotion at the Ministry of Interior in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the exercise was conducted in line with Service rules and after examinations have been carried out in all the Services.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for the speedy approval of the promotion, saying it was in tandem with his commitment to the welfare of all personnel serving the country in various institutions


Dr Tunji-Ojo was represented by the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi. He was flanked by the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCOS, Haliru Nababa and the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Immigration, Fire and Correctional Services Board, Alhaji Ahmed Jaafaru.

The Minister,who described the promotion exercise as unprecedented especially in the NSCDC, urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by re-dedicating themselves to the Service of the country.

Dr Tunji-Ojo gave the breakdown of the promotion in accordance with the numbers of those who participated in the examinations conducted for the personnel.

According to him out of 25,351 personnel who sat for promotion examinations in the NSCDC, 21,381 personnel were promoted to the next ranks.

In the Immigration Service, he said 6,544 sat for examinations with 4,598 promotion, while 1680 were promoted in the Federal Fire Service out of 1698 who sat for examinations.

The Minister said in the Correctional Service, 4498 were promoted out of over 7,000 who sat for the examinations.

https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-promotes-over-32300-para-military-personnel/

In a landmark move, Covalensedigital and inq. Digital Nigeria has entered into a partnership to transform Nigeria’s digital services for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). This collaboration ushers in a new era of digital agility and financial flexibility for MVNOs through a bespoke Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.
The newly launched Digital Service Enablement Platform (DSEP) is set to be a game-changer for MVNOs of all sizes in Nigeria, offering the necessary agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency to thrive in a competitive market.

Alongside the platform, MVNOs will benefit from comprehensive local support services to ensure a smooth operational experience.

Seshan Krishnamurti, Vice President of Sales for the African region at Covalensedigital, remarked, that MVNOs have the potential to be key players in the nation’s digital transformation; this is one of the intentions behind the policy and regulation which brought about their birth in Nigeria.

The partnership between Covalensedigital and inq. Nigeria is poised to catapult these MVNOs to the forefront of the digital race.


Ifeanyi Akosionu, Managing Director of inq. Nigeria, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This partnership represents a pivotal moment for the Nigerian digital landscape, marking the first of its kind in our commitment to revolutionizing the MVNO sector. The Digital Service Enablement Platform introduces unparalleled flexibility of infrastructure, ensuring that MVNOs can navigate the evolving digital landscape with agility.”

He continued, “Our focus on flexibility, cost-effectiveness and local pricing further underscores our dedication to empowering MVNOs of all sizes. By providing a SaaS and IaaS bundled solution tailored to the unique needs of the Nigerian market, inq. Nigeria aims to set a new standard for digital service delivery, fostering innovation and sustainable growth for optimal economic impact.”

This strategic alliance is a clear indicator of the dedication to accelerating Nigeria’s economy, empowering businesses with innovative digital tools, and setting new benchmarks in the digital service sector


https://www.chronicle.ng/2023/11/covalensedigital-inq-nigeria-partner-mvno/

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Dr. Olusola Odusanya resumed duty as Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) (arguably) on the 1st of May, 2023 and since then, he has run the Agency like his personal business, jettisoning virtually all extant rules guiding the operations of public sector organisations in Nigeria. Dr. Odusanya repeatedly commits administrative blunders, financial impropriety and procurement recklessness which portend grave danger for the research institute and its teeming workforce.
Odusanya’s appointment was bedevilled by a widely publicized and elongated antagonism from the then-Governing Board as well as the non-academic staff union of the Agency. This rejection was allegedly premised on the failure of the erstwhile Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh, to follow due process in carrying out the appointment of Directors General/CEO for some Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation including NACETEM. It was generally believed that the then Honourable Minister of Science and Technology sold the DG seats to the highest bidders and his cronies and to be able to achieve that, had to hijack the recruitment process from the Governing Boards of the concerned agencies under the Ministry.

It is still largely believed in some quarters that Olusola Odusanya’s appointment as DG/CEO of NACETEM was shrouded in unholy secrecy between the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the top hierarchies of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The news of his appointment went public on Friday, 26th of May 2023 at the very twilight of the immediate past administration. This was the first red flag about the veracity of his appointment process. Meanwhile, there was confusion about the effective date of his appointment as various dates were reported on different news platforms, even by his own media team. One other notable inconsistency in Odusanya’s appointment uncovered by our investigation is that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had no records of his appointment at the time he resumed duty at NACETEM.

Upon his resumption at NACETEM and amidst the protests by the non-academic staff, Dr Olusola Odusanya forced his entry into the North Central office of the Agency in Abuja, breaking locks and forcing doors open. He later visited the Agency’s headquarters at Ile-Ife and South West office in Lagos, where he addressed members of staff. He has since returned to the Abuja office where he operates, abandoning his office at the Headquarters. Management meetings and other engagements between members of staff and the DG/CEO have mostly been done via Zoom since June 2023


One of Sola Odusanya’s first administrative pronouncements was the dissolution of the Public Relations Unit of the Agency and the removal of a designated Information Officer who functioned as the Public Relations/Information Officer, Mr Isaac Oluyi, a qualified linguist and certified PR professional only to appoint one Dr Babalola, a Research Officer with a background in Agriculture, as the new Communications Officer for the Agency. This has not only been dysfunctional and counter-productive for the Agency but also contravenes Section 6 Clause 020601(ii) of the Federal Public Service Rules 2021 which states that posting of officers to posts outside their professional cadres is prohibited.

During his initial address to members of staff of NACETEM, Dr Odusanya made it known that he would be working with Special and Personal Assistants whom he might source from outside NACETEM. While it is widely known that he is at liberty to pick members of his working team which may include secondment of officers from other MDAs, the process of appointing officers on secondment should not be a one-man show but must follow a laid down procedure as stipulated in Clause 020503 of the Federal Public Service Rules 2021. Dr Sola Odusanya single-handedly requested the secondment of officers from various MDAs, accepted their approvals and offered them appointment letters with placements significantly higher than their last ranks where they were seconded. For instance, an officer who was on CONRAISS 9 Step 2 (Senior Administrative Officer) at his original duty post was appointed by Dr. Odusanya and placed on CONRAISS 13 Step 8 (Assistant Director, Administration). Another officer whose original rank was CONRAISS 12 Step 11 was appointed on secondment by Dr Odusanya and arbitrarily placed on CONRAISS 14 Step 6. Our investigation revealed that none of these decisions was discussed by the Management of the Agency but were taken exclusively by the DG/CEO. In all, Sola Odusanya presently works with up to five personal staff some of whom never had any previous public service experience and some of whom he has cunningly put in charge of the Agency’s procurement, payment and personnel management systems for reasons that are not far-fetched.

The Government Integrated Finance Management and Information System (GIFMIS) platform is an automated online system through which the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation monitors and manages all payments made by federal MDAs. It was designed and operated such that all payments can be traced to designated officers who play identifiable roles in each organisation’s payment processes. For an Agency like NACETEM, the DG/CEO in agreement with the Director/Head of Finance and Accounts selects these role players and furnishes the Accountant General of the Federation’s office with all necessary information showing that they are qualified and confirmed employees of the organisation. Dr. Olusola Odusanya, in connivance with corrupt officials at the Account General’s office, surreptitiously nominated and placed officers on secondment, whose employment status is not yet confirmed in NACETEM, as role players on the NACETEM GIFMIS user end. He went further on this ignominious path to register himself as the final/ultimate approver of all payment transactions on the platform. This simply means once Odusanya wants any payment made, he only needs to approve all documents supporting the payment, instruct his minions to initiate and approve all preliminary steps towards payment on the GIFMIS and finalize the payment. All ingredients of fraud and misappropriation are, literarily, complete. To have his way in all this, Dr. Olusola Odusanya has sidelined the Agency’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Dr. John Omimakinde, a man whom he could not co-opt into his ignoble team.

At the moment, Dr. Odusanya operating from the Abuja zonal office, positions his men as de facto Heads of Finance, Human Resource Management, Procurement and ICT. All of them are officers on secondment at NACETEM. He refers to them as his Special Assistants/Advisers and he instructed the substantive Heads of these Departments/Units at the NACETEM Headquarters to report and/or liaise with them and not with him directly unless otherwise instructed. These men issue memoranda, give instructions and carry out official assignments on behalf of NACETEM, even when they are not on the Agency’s nominal or payroll. None of the offices they occupy or roles they play lacked competent personnel in NACETEM before Odusanya emerged as DG/CEO of NACETEM. Yet, he chose to ignore the institutional repository and history that these long-serving and experienced very senior officers represent. Maybe it is safe to just conclude that he needed to go all out to ‘secure the bag’ at NACETEM for himself and his cronies.

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Between June and November 2023, Dr Olusola Odusanya initiated, approved and finalized the disbursement of millions upon millions of naira without consultations with members of the NACETEM Management, most especially the Director/Head of Finance and Accounts. At the moment, he is working with his Special Adviser on Procurement and the Agency’s Head of Procurement, Mr Onome Otite, to finalize payments for capital projects supposedly undertaken in this year 2023, most of which were not done at all or shoddily done. Our findings revealed that about One Hundred Million Naira of Nigeria’s taxpayers’ money is about to find its way into the pockets of Dr Sola Odusanya, DG/CEO NACETEM, his SA (Procurement), the Head of Procurement in NACETEM and several make shift contractors and consultants, who were hurriedly selected in a completely non-transparent and non-compliant procurement process. Relevant documents are being hastily and dubiously put together to beat the newly introduced cash planning/management system of the Federal Government. A quick and thorough scrutiny of NACETEM’s 2023 procurement activities will glaringly reveal all the atrocities jointly committed by Sola Odusanya and his partners in corruption. Failure to promptly carry out this investigation may give them enough time to cover their tracks and get the funds out of government coffers.

We, therefore, call on the Bureau of Public Procurement and other relevant agencies of government to beam their searchlights on NACETEM’s 2023 procurement activities and if necessary, the previous years too.

Considering all the inordinate actions of Dr. Olusola Odusanya in the last six months he has been in charge at NACETEM; his vindictiveness, illegal appointments and placement, financial indiscipline and contract racketeering, it goes without saying that his mission at NACETEM is purely that of self-enrichment and self-aggrandizement. It will, however, be quite unfortunate to jeopardize the continuous existence and relevance of this all-important Agency due to non-performance which may likely come with the lack of vision and negative influence of a Chief Executive like Dr. Olusola Odusanya.

Emeka George Arinze, a stakeholder in the Nigeria tech sector, writes from Abuja

https://www.chronicle.ng/2023/11/olusola-odusanya-dg-nacetem-mission-steal/#google_vignette