The Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday carried out an unannounced visit to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he openly criticised delays in passport processing and warned officials against extorting applicants.
The surprise visit was part of the minister’s ongoing efforts to improve service delivery in passport offices across the country and to ensure that Nigerians receive value for money paid for government services.
During the visit, Tunji-Ojo inspected operations at the VIP and Children section of the passport office. He interacted directly with immigration officers and passport applicants, asking questions about the level of service, waiting time, and challenges faced by members of the public.
The minister expressed strong displeasure that many applicants were still waiting long after the office was expected to begin operations. He questioned why only a few people had been attended to several hours after opening time, especially in a section meant for fast-track services.
According to him, passport applicants deserve efficient and respectful treatment, as they have already paid the full official fees required for the service.
“I don’t want to hear that you are collecting money for diesel or paper,” Tunji-Ojo said during the inspection. “Nigerians have paid for their passports completely. Serve them diligently.”
He warned applicants against paying any extra money outside official charges, stressing that no immigration officer has the right to demand additional payments for services that are already covered by government fees.
The minister noted that complaints about passport delays and unofficial charges have continued despite reforms introduced by the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service. He said such practices must stop if public trust in government institutions is to be restored.
Tunji-Ojo was particularly unhappy that by 9:30 a.m., only a handful of applicants had been processed in the VIP and Children section, while many others were waiting downstairs.
“So it means that by 9:30am, I expect to see at least one or two applicants here,” he said. “Because I can see some people waiting downstairs, and our responsibility is to be efficient.”
He went further to question the slow pace of enrolment and biometric capturing. According to the minister, passport processing should be a simple and quick process when systems and staff are properly organised.
“How long does it take to do an enrolment? Three minutes. So three times seven, that is twenty-one minutes,” he said, calculating the expected processing time for applicants.
In response, immigration officers explained that although the office was scheduled to open by 8 a.m., operations did not begin until about 9 a.m. because the generator powering the facility was switched on late.
“We are supposed to open by eight,” one official admitted, adding that power supply was only activated after applicants had already arrived.
The explanation did not sit well with the minister, who described the delay as unacceptable. He stressed that government offices must respect official working hours and plan properly to avoid wasting the time of citizens.
Tunji-Ojo also criticised the method used by officials, where enrolment for all applicants was completed before biometric capturing began. He said this approach unnecessarily increased waiting time and caused frustration among applicants.
“It doesn’t make sense to me. People are there waiting,” he said. “Some of these people still need to go to work. Some of these people have other things to do.”
“So why must you wait until you enrol everybody before you do capturing?” the minister asked.
He insisted that enrolment and biometric capturing should be done at the same time to reduce delays and improve efficiency. According to him, time wasted in government offices translates to economic loss for citizens.
“You are wasting people’s precious time. Time is money. Time is expensive. It is unacceptable,” he said firmly.
The minister also faulted the poor use of the VIP and Children section of the passport office. He observed that while the section was underused, many applicants were crowded in other areas, leading to unnecessary congestion.
Tunji-Ojo said applicants from other sections could have been redirected to the VIP and Children section to reduce pressure and speed up processing.
“It will not cost you anything if you use this place for them,” he told officials.
He reminded immigration officers that passport offices exist to serve Nigerians, not to create artificial barriers or privileges. According to him, the idea of “VIP treatment” should not lead to unfairness or neglect of other applicants.
“Nigeria has no VIP,” the minister said. “When you wear this uniform, you wear a uniform of sacrifice. You are here to work for the people.”
The unannounced visit comes against the background of widespread complaints about passport delays across the country. For years, Nigerians have faced long waiting periods, system failures, and demands for unofficial payments while trying to obtain international passports.
Since assuming office in 2023, Tunji-Ojo has made passport reform a key priority. His administration introduced measures such as contactless passport application systems, online appointment scheduling, and improved monitoring of passport offices.
The ministry has also warned officers repeatedly against extortion and inefficiency, stressing that erring officials will face disciplinary action.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain, especially in high-demand locations like Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, where large numbers of applicants seek passport services daily.
Civil society groups and travel agents have often called on the government to strengthen oversight and improve infrastructure, including power supply, internet connectivity, and staffing levels at passport offices.
Tunji-Ojo said the purpose of his surprise visits is to see the real situation on the ground, not what is presented in official reports. He stressed that reforms must reflect in the daily experience of ordinary Nigerians.
The minister’s visit to the Gwagwalada passport office has drawn praise from some applicants, who said it showed seriousness on the part of the government. Some applicants expressed hope that such inspections would lead to lasting improvements.
As the visit ended, Tunji-Ojo reiterated that efficiency, fairness, and honesty must guide passport operations nationwide. He warned that delays, excuses, and illegal charges would no longer be tolerated.