The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday paid an unscheduled visit to the Gwagwalada and Sauka passport offices in Abuja to assess the effectiveness of ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
According to the Minister, the visit was aimed at evaluating service delivery and examining how recent reforms are impacting Nigerians seeking passport services. He noted that while progress has been recorded, there is still room for improvement if officers further optimise processes and embrace innovation.
“I saw first-hand how Nigerians are being attended to, and I believe service delivery can be a lot better if officers can optimise processes and stay innovative,” the Minister said.
The visit has since generated widespread reactions from Nigerians, many of whom praised the Minister’s hands-on leadership approach. One commentator described the move as the kind of leadership Nigerians have long desired, stressing that unscheduled visits demonstrate accountability, seriousness, and a commitment to reforms that directly impact citizens.
According to the commentator, such actions restore public confidence in government institutions and show that public service can be humane, efficient, and responsive when leadership is intentional.
Other reactions called for the Minister to extend similar surprise inspections to other Immigration Service offices, including the NIS headquarters, noting that such visits would further improve staff conduct and service delivery.
Some members of the public also used the opportunity to raise related concerns. Applicants of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) appealed to the Minister to release the long-awaited recruitment shortlist, expressing eagerness to serve the country.
Another commentator described the Minister’s unscheduled visit to the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, as unprecedented in the history of the Ministry of Interior, adding that the move would keep officers alert and accountable.
Overall, many Nigerians have called for more frequent unscheduled visits, expressing the belief that sustained oversight would lead to improved efficiency and better service delivery across passport offices nationwide.
