News
FG clears 200,000 passport backlogs, pays ₦28bn debts — Tunji-Ojo
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Federal Government has cleared over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications since he assumed office.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed that ₦28 billion in old debts have been paid off, all without extra funding from the government.
He made these announcements during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series held in Lagos on Monday. He spoke on the topic, “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” and called for bold leadership, system reform, and the smart use of technology.
“Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur. And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?” he said.
He explained how his ministry used innovation, technology, and planning to clear passport backlogs and debts. New systems like e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, and advanced passenger tracking have been launched.
Speaking about Nigeria’s prisons, Tunji-Ojo said the correctional system is in bad shape.
He pointed out that more than 4,000 inmates are behind bars simply because they can’t pay fines as low as ₦50,000.
“This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he said.
He added that the ministry is working with private donors to help release many of these non-violent prisoners, noting that it’s also pushing for reforms that focus on rehabilitation, not just punishment.
These include digital case tracking, vocational training in prisons, and partnerships to improve prison conditions.
“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” he said.
Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, praised Tunji-Ojo’s leadership.
“Innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” he said, adding that the Minister’s work shows what real public service should look like.The event brought together business leaders, government officials, and experts from across the country.
It was part of Access Bank’s effort to spark national change through conversations about leadership and service.
In his final words, Tunji-Ojo urged everyone to live with purpose and pursue excellence.
“Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, let it be a nation of performance.
It is time to refine our genius, not just export it,” he said.
News
Reps move to reform military laws
Abbas urged stakeholders, including serving and retired military officers, civil society organisations, gender advocates, legal practitioners and members of the public, to actively participate in the legislative process.
The House of Representatives has commenced move to reform military laws.
Speaking at a two-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Defence in Abuja on Monday, Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, said that the proposed legislations were designed to address the country’s evolving security challenges and build a more resilient and effective military institution.
He said that the bills were in line with the legislative agenda of the 10th House of Representatives and reflected lawmakers’ commitment to reforming the nation’s defence sector.
He added that emerging threats such as maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, cyber warfare and the growing nexus between organised crime and terrorism had further underscored the need for comprehensive reforms.
The Speaker said among the key bills under consideration are the Armed Forces Farms and Ranches Scheme Bill, which seeks to link food security initiatives with military operations, particularly in conflict-prone agricultural communities.
Others include the Gender Representation in the Armed Forces Bill, aimed at promoting inclusiveness in military recruitment and service; the Nigerian Military Force Bill, which seeks to repeal and replace the Armed Forces Act to align military administration with contemporary realities; and the Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria Bill, intended to improve the welfare of retired military personnel.
Abbas urged stakeholders, including serving and retired military officers, civil society organisations, gender advocates, legal practitioners and members of the public, to actively participate in the legislative process.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, described the hearing as a critical platform for citizens and stakeholders to contribute to shaping laws that would strengthen Nigeria’s defence and security framework.
News
FG to launch digital address system to boost national security
Tijani disclosed this at the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System Workshop in Abuja, yesterday.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has said that a nationwide digital postcode system will be launched by the Federal Government in October, with several states expected to be covered before the end of the year.
Tijani disclosed this at the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System Workshop in Abuja, yesterday.
He explained that the initiative would assign a unique digital address to every building in Nigeria, including those in rural communities, enabling security agencies, businesses and public institutions to accurately identify and locate people and properties.
The minister said the project is a critical national infrastructure designed to address Nigeria’s long-standing challenge of lacking a reliable and standardised addressing system.
He noted that the absence of accurate addresses has hampered crime investigations, emergency response services and identity verification processes, while creating opportunities for fraud.
News
FG to roll out 10,000 electric tricycles in August –Shettima
The President has approved the replication of the initiative in other parts of the country by the various regional development commissions.
• A visit by Transporters For Tinubu/Shettima 2027 at the State House
Vice President Kashim Shettima said has that the Federal Government would roll out 10,000 electric tricycles in August 2026 as part of a broader plan to ease public transportation and strengthen Nigeria’s logistics chain.
Shettima disclosed this during a visit by Transporters For Tinubu/Shettima 2027 at the State House, saying the tricycles would be distributed by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for use across the North East and beyond.
He added that President Bola Tinubu had approved replicating the initiative through other regional development commissions nationwide.
The President has approved the replication of the initiative in other parts of the country by the various regional development commissions.
“This administration is determined to build a transport economy that lowers the cost of movement, reduces delays at ports, connects farms to markets, strengthens national productivity and gives transporters a more dignified place in the country’s development process,” he said.
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