The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, has commended the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for what it described as far-reaching reforms and interventions across the Ministry of Interior, particularly in passport administration, youth empowerment and correctional services.
The students’ body, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Josiah Adeyemo, said its assessment of the minister’s stewardship was based on measurable outcomes and interventions that have directly affected Nigerians, especially students and young people.
According to NANS, the reforms introduced since Tunji-Ojo assumed office have contributed to a more technology-driven, responsive and citizen-oriented Ministry of Interior.
The association specifically highlighted the clearance of a backlog of more than 204,000 passport applications in approximately two and a half weeks, describing the development as a significant intervention for students seeking international academic opportunities, young professionals and Nigerians travelling for legitimate purposes.
NANS also commended the introduction of contactless passport-renewal services, increased automation of immigration processes and the deployment of electronic gates at international airports.
The students’ body said these measures have helped reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks while improving the efficiency of passport and immigration services.
Beyond immigration reforms, NANS praised Tunji-Ojo for his commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.
It cited the “Students to CEO 2.0” Entrepreneurship Summit organised through the NANS Joint Campus Committee, Ondo Axis, where business equipment was provided to 200 students drawn from 10 tertiary institutions.
The beneficiaries, according to the association, received equipment including industrial sewing machines, deep freezers and power generators to enable them develop entrepreneurial skills and establish income-generating ventures.
NANS said the intervention was particularly significant because it moved beyond conventional rhetoric about youth empowerment by providing practical tools that could support students in building sustainable livelihoods.
The association also acknowledged interventions in the Nigerian Correctional Service, including efforts that led to the payment of fines for more than 4,000 inmates who remained in custody because they could not afford relatively minor financial penalties.
It said the intervention contributed to the decongestion of correctional facilities, reduced the financial burden associated with keeping such inmates in custody and, more importantly, helped restore the freedom and dignity of thousands of Nigerians.
“Since your assumption of office on 21 August 2023, we have watched the Ministry of Interior move beyond administrative routine into an era defined by urgency, innovation and results,” the students stated.
NANS maintained that the reforms have demonstrated that public service can be driven by technology, innovation and measurable outcomes, adding that the transformation of critical services under the Ministry has had implications beyond the immediate beneficiaries.
For Nigerian students, the association noted that efficient passport services remain particularly important, given the increasing number of young Nigerians pursuing international education, professional opportunities, research collaborations and other legitimate engagements outside the country.
The students’ body therefore described the reforms in the immigration sector as interventions capable of reducing uncertainty and restoring confidence in public institutions.
NANS also called attention to the broader youth-development philosophy reflected in the Students to CEO initiative, noting that providing students with productive tools can complement academic training by giving them opportunities to develop practical skills and income-generating ventures
The association said it would continue to monitor government policies and interventions affecting Nigerian students while encouraging public officials to sustain programmes that deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
The commendation adds to the growing attention surrounding reforms within the Ministry of Interior, particularly in immigration, correctional services and youth-focused interventions under Tunji-Ojo’s leadership.
For the students’ body, the central issue is not the announcement of government programmes, but whether such interventions translate into measurable improvements in the daily experiences and opportunities of Nigerians.
