Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo Blasts NIS Officials at Gwagwalada Passport Office Over Long Waiting Times

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a no-nonsense display of hands-on leadership, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made an unannounced visit to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he sharply criticized officials for what he described as the unacceptable waste of applicants’ time through prolonged delays.

During the inspection, the Minister confronted staff over excessive waiting periods faced by citizens seeking passport services.

Sources close to the visit reported that Tunji-Ojo expressed strong disapproval, stating that such inefficiencies “don’t make sense” and amount to “wasting people’s time.”

He emphasized that government services must prioritize citizen convenience and efficiency, aligning with ongoing reforms in the passport issuance process.

The surprise tour allowed the Minister to directly observe operations, interact with workers, and assess challenges on the ground.

Video footage circulating on social media captured moments of the Minister questioning officials about service delivery bottlenecks, highlighting his frustration with persistent delays despite previous directives for improvement.

This visit comes amid the Ministry’s broader push for modernization, including the planned rollout of the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January 2026, upgrades to passport personalization centers capable of producing thousands of documents rapidly, and efforts to reduce processing times significantly—targets that include potential seven-day delivery for standard applications through centralized systems and automation.

Tunji-Ojo has consistently positioned himself as a reform-driven leader, frequently conducting unscheduled inspections to enforce accountability within the NIS.

The Gwagwalada episode underscores his commitment to tackling long-standing complaints about passport delays, corruption allegations, and bureaucratic hurdles that have frustrated Nigerians for years.

Applicants at the facility welcomed the Minister’s intervention, with many expressing hope that such direct oversight would lead to faster resolutions and better service.

NIS officials have not yet issued a formal response to the Minister’s remarks, but the incident is expected to prompt immediate internal reviews and corrective measures.

The Ministry of Interior continues to urge Nigerians to apply through official channels and take advantage of digital improvements to minimize in-person waits where possible. As reforms progress, Tunji-Ojo’s approach signals that tolerance for inefficiency in public service delivery is wearing thin.