By Francis Wilfred
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed agencies under his ministry to achieve 100 percent performance in 2025, stressing that ongoing reforms must outlive his tenure and build strong institutions.
Speaking at the closing of the Ministry’s 2025 Mid-Term Retreat in Suleja, Niger State, the minister said the ministry’s performance rating improved from 62 percent in 2024 to 85 percent this year. However, he described the score as below expectation.
“If today we scored 85 percent, let us strive for 100 percent. Excellence must be our benchmark. My dream is to build a ministry that thrives beyond my leadership, one sustained by strong institutions, not strong men,” he said.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo signed performance contracts with the heads of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service, and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The bond with the Nigeria Immigration Service will be signed later, as its Comptroller-General was on the President’s entourage to Brazil.
The minister praised NSCDC for protecting critical assets but urged it to become “an elite security agency” under its new performance contract. He also commended the Correctional Service for reforms focused on rehabilitation but warned against complacency.
To the Federal Fire Service, he directed an expansion into emergency medical services and encouraged private sector participation. He further acknowledged improvements in NIMC’s data security but demanded stronger systems for verification and registration.
“The goal is for every agency, from Civil Defence to Fire Service, to reflect the same level of excellence and deliver services that Nigerians can feel in their daily lives,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo also expressed appreciation to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, describing her as “the stabiliser of the ministry, a lady with steel, and the trusted hand that helps navigate the dangerous terrain of public service.”
He commended the directors and management staff for their dedication, adding that civil servants are not “evil servants” but some of the best public officers he has worked with.
In a special recognition, the minister paid tribute to retiring Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Umar, popularly known as MT. He described him as “a symbol of loyalty, principle, and character,” noting his role in passport reforms and ICT innovations in Immigration.
“The story of our passport reforms cannot be complete without MT. His 35 years of meritorious service speak volumes. He may be retiring from uniform, but not from contributing his expertise. The ministry will always knock on his door for guidance,” the minister remarked.
