Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo conducted an unannounced inspection at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday, where he sharply criticized staff for inefficiencies and delays in processing applications.
In viral videos from the visit, the minister rebuked officers for slow operations, noting that the VIP and Children's section designed for faster service only began around 9 a.m. after generator activation, despite an 8 a.m. opening time.
Hours later, few applicants had been served, leaving many waiting unnecessarily.Tunji-Ojo questioned the pace of enrolment and biometric capturing, stressing that each process should take just three minutes and urging simultaneous handling to eliminate bottlenecks.
"You're wasting people's precious time," he told the officers. "Time is money. Time is expensive. It is unacceptable."
He also warned against corruption, declaring that applicants should not pay extra for diesel, paper, or other items. "Nigerians have paid for their passports completely. Serve them diligently," he said, adding that no one is a "VIP" and staff must prioritize public service with sacrifice.
To address congestion, he instructed officials to redirect waiting applicants to underused sections.
The minister interacted directly with staff and applicants, gathering immediate feedback to push for better efficiency in passport issuance.
Watch video below:
VIDEO: 'You're wasting people's precious time' — Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo rebukes NIS officers during an unscheduled visit to the passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja pic.twitter.com/gVaJbueybD
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