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.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested the National Assembly’s approval to secure external loans of $21.5 million and ¥15 billion as part of the federal government’s proposed 2025–2026 external borrowing plan.

Also, the request consists of a grant of €65 million to be included in the federal government’s external borrowing plan.

The president’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary on Tuesday.

In the letter, Mr Tinubu said that the funds will be used to create employment, promote skill acquisition, enhance entrepreneurship, reduce poverty, and boost food security.

He emphasised that the proposed projects and programmes are designed to have a nationwide impact, spanning all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This fresh loan comes as Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N144.7 trillion (approximately $94.2 billion), according to Debt Management Office December 2024 data.

A breakdown of the existing public debt showed that about 51.4 percent of the total (N74.4 trillion) is domestic debt, while 48.6 percent (N70.3 trillion) is external debt

President Bola Tinubu will on Saturday, May 31, inaugurate Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as part of his working visit to Lagos.

The highway, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of his administration, will be inaugurated alongside other key developments including the Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road, the flag-off of Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and the 7th Axial Road.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will also perform virtual inaugurations of several road projects across northern Nigeria, including the Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road, Yakasai-Zalli Road, and the Kano Northern By-pass.

Others include the Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I, Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi, and Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section III.

The President will be in Lagos from Tuesday to also participate in activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States, which he currently chairs.