The Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Philip Agbese, has applauded the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his outstanding performance, particularly in clearing over 200,000 passport backlogs within three weeks.
Agbese, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, described the minister’s achievement as a landmark reform that has redefined public service delivery in the ministry.
He also commended the minister for introducing end-to-end automation that has eliminated touting and racketeering in passport processing, as well as for establishing new passport offices across several countries to serve Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Today, citizens can apply for and collect their passports within days, not months, and that’s a direct outcome of his leadership,” Agbese said, adding that Tunji-Ojo’s reform efforts extended beyond the Nigeria Immigration Service.
According to him, the minister has introduced structure and discipline to the correctional system. He mentioned that over 4,500 inmates were released to ease overcrowded facilities, adding that biometric systems were implemented to track escapees, emphasising that jailbreaks had almost become a thing of the past.
Agbese further noted that Tunji-Ojo ensured timely promotions, introduced digital monitoring systems, and improved the welfare of officers across paramilitary agencies, adding that the ministry, under the minister’s supervision, generated over ₦6 billion in revenue this year alone, proving that transparency and efficiency could coexist in governance.
“In less than a year, Dr. Tunji-Ojo has transformed the Ministry of Interior from a bureaucratic enclave into a model of efficiency,” Agbese declared, describing the minister as “not just a super-performing minister, but parliament’s treasured asset.”
He dismissed recent allegations surrounding the minister’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as “mere political noise by enemies of progress determined to derail the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Agbese argued that the so-called certificate scandal was a hoax designed by desperate politicians who could not match competence with results. He urged Nigerians to focus on performance and measurable impact rather than unsubstantiated claims.
“Governance is not about gossip; it’s about delivery,” he said. “Every citizen can see the difference the Interior Ministry is making — faster services, cleaner processes, and greater accountability.”
Agbese described Tunji-Ojo as one of the brightest examples of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision, noting that his blend of youth, innovation, and patriotism had restored citizens’ confidence in public institutions.
