Nigerians Applaud Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo Over Clearance Of 60,000 Passport Applications

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said that a backlog of almost 60,000 passports has been cleared in four working days.

“As of this morning, I can tell you that about 60,000 passport backlogs have been cleared, specifically 59,906. On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, when I gave the 2-week ultimatum, we had over 200,000 backlogs. We have recorded progress, and I maintain my word that those backlogs must be cleared,” he said.

Nigerians have taken to different social media platforms to shower praise on the minister for not only making the promise but also fulfilling it.

One of the prominent Instagram blogs, Instablog, posted the reactions and the comments section is full of hope, praise, and happiness.

READ ALSO: Groups Condemn Immigration Boss Alleged Illegal Tenure Extension

Reacting to the new development, @violetqueenmother said: “So they can work like this when ordinary renewal of my passport took 6 months. They know how to work; they just decide to make life difficult for us.”

Similarly, @ayinke.ade noted: “As it should be. Not those unnecessary bottlenecks.”

@Ekitiketan noted: “This is a great development. The kind of leadership we need right now.”

@Mona_lisa_perry recalled when the minister gave the pledge to clear the backlog last week: “Indeed! Not business as usual. Just last week, the minister made the pledge about clearing the backlogs; now, 60,000 applications have been cleared by NIS. It is good that he is keeping them on their toes. Nigerians, there is hope for a great Nigeria.”

@olatunde_charles pointed out: “It means those immigration people had just been very lazy or intentionally delayed the processing to cause scarcity.”

@_faiad questioned: “How are they able to clear 60,000 booklets in four days? But they always told us there’s no booklets, only to be issuing passports to the highest bidders. See how we punish ourselves and blame the government?”

READ ALSO: Recruitment: FG Releases List Of Successful Applicants Into Immigration, NSCDC

@Celebmgbah wrote: “Imagine what is daily ringing in the imagination of staff ears, ‘either you work or give us space’ No more public holidays for passport officers.”

@Famo_cares asserted: “With this achievement, I hope Nigerians understand that it is we Nigerians that is Nigeria’s problem. All the staff at the NIS, comprising all tribes and religions. I am sure the President, the governors we hate so much, have their relations in the civil service, and if they do, they are all Nigerians. Yet the same civil servants are the same people sabotaging and extorting Nigerians from getting their passports, and we blame the government. Who is the government? Are the people working there aliens? Until Nigerians change their attitudes and become patriotic, we will never move forward. In the same vein, leadership also matters a lot. Now it is obvious that former minister Rauf Aregbesola was an abysmal failure in the office; what he couldn’t achieve for eight (8) years, another minister has done in less than two weeks of taking the same office.

“I urge the minister to keep an eye on the staff at the NIS; those who are not ready to work should be kicked out, and passionate Nigerians should be engaged. God bless Nigeria.”

Trending video of the day:

Photo credit: Getty