The Digest:
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo conducted an unannounced inspection of the Nigerian Immigration Service passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, criticising operational delays and warning officials against inefficiency. According to reports, the minister questioned why only a few applicants had been attended to hours after the office’s scheduled opening time. He admonished staff for not running enrolment and biometric capturing simultaneously and cautioned applicants against making extra payments, stating that passport fees are fully covered officially. Officers cited generator-related power delays as contributing to the late start of operations.
Key Points:
- The visit highlights persistent inefficiencies and delays in government service delivery, affecting citizens’ time and schedules.
- It signals the ministry’s intent to enforce accountability and improve operational transparency in passport processing.
- Applicants may feel encouraged to report extortion and malpractice following the minister’s public stance against unofficial charges.
- The criticism underscores systemic issues such as power dependency and poor process design within frontline immigration offices.
- Timing reinforces the government’s ongoing effort to address public service reform ahead of expected increases in passport demand.
