By Bishop C. Johnson
In a refreshing departure from the usual scripted photo-ops and distant directives that often characterize Nigerian public service, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo—widely known as BTO—delivered yet another masterclass in accountable governance with his unannounced visit to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, without prior notice, media entourage, or ceremonial protocol, BTO walked directly into the facility to assess operations on the ground. What he encountered—and immediately confronted—was the all-too-familiar pattern of deliberately engineered sluggish processing: foot-dragging, excessive delays, long waiting times, and potential rent-seeking practices that have frustrated passport applicants for years and, in many cases, compelled them to offer kickbacks just to end their passport ordeal.
Inspecting the VIP and Children’s sections personally, the Minister engaged directly with both staff and citizens. He grilled officials on the pace of work, pointing out that hours after opening, only a handful of applicants had been served. “You’re wasting people’s precious time,” he declared in viral video footage now circulating widely. He questioned why enrollment and biometric capturing weren’t happening simultaneously, despite separate personnel handling each task, and emphasized that no Nigerian should endure unnecessary delays when time equates to lost productivity, income, and dignity.
Equally firm was his message to applicants: do not pay a single kobo beyond the official, government-approved fees. “Nigerians have paid fully for their passports,” he stressed repeatedly, warning citizens not to succumb to demands for so-called “administrative fees,” diesel, paper, or any other unofficial charges imposed by middlemen or corrupt officials. This direct intervention is aimed at dismantling the entrenched culture of extortion that has long plagued the passport system—an abuse the fearless and courageous young Minister is determined to end through sweeping reforms.
To the NIS officers, BTO’s directive was unequivocal: “Serve them diligently. You are here to serve them.” He reminded them that public service is not a privilege for the server but a duty to the served—no VIP status excuses inefficiency, as “time is money” for every citizen.
This Gwagwalada inspection is no isolated stunt; it aligns perfectly with BTO’s consistent pattern of proactive, citizen-first reforms since taking office. From digitizing passport processes and launching e-visa initiatives to modernizing border management and building new data centers, his approach has been to bridge the gap between policy promises and on-the-ground reality. By showing up uninvited, listening to real complaints, and demanding immediate change, he reinforces that true leadership isn’t about hiding behind bureaucracy—it’s about dismantling it when it fails the people.
Social media has since erupted with praise, as many Nigerians hail the Minister as a “man of action” and a “man of the people,” while calling for similar surprise inspections across government offices nationwide. With an administration anchored on the Renewed Hope agenda, BTO’s hands-on leadership style is steadily restoring public trust—one unannounced visit at a time.
At Gwagwalada that day, citizens didn’t just witness a ministerial tour.
They experienced governance that actually works—for them.
Capt. Bishop C. Johnson, US Army (rtd), is a national defense and military strategist, and a political commentator.
