From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Group, Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) on Friday told Nigerian Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo not to be distracted but to remain focused on his transformational ministerial responsibilities to vast Nigerians.
To this group, those who are attempting to drag him away from his statutory responsibility to Nigeria and Nigerians are distractions.
CNF in a statement by its Secretary Ahmidu Philip said the minister has proven to be one of the shining lights of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
For example, the group noted that abinitio, Nigeria was bedeviled by a laborious and time-wasting passport application process due to corruption, the situation the minister is now addressing through digital processes.
According to Ahmodu, “his commitment to keeping with his promise is also to be commended. The minister on assuming office gave a time frame and calendar for when his reforms will start and he has kept to this time set excellently.
“In a country where we have been accustomed to promise and fail leadership, Honourable Olubunmi Tunji Ojo has shown himself as a rare breed and trailblazer, a young mind whose energetic, focused and patriotism to the nation is admirable”, he said.
The group specifically highlighted some of the gains of the interior minister since he assumed office a few months ago which include clearance of 204,332 passport backlogs and over 50,000 new passports in three weeks.
Clearance of 2.5 million NiN modification backlogs, the release of 4,068 inmates; comprising persons sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with the option of fine and compensation in custodial status nationwide.
Others include re-launching the Safe School Initiative, improving emergency and fire response time by commissioning new fire engines and rapid intervention vehicles and establishing enhanced e-passport facilities at select Nigerian Embassies in Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, and Switzerland.
“HM Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo chaired the 5th meeting of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). The board approved the promotion of 4498 personnel from the Nigerian Correctional Service, 4598 from the Nigeria Immigration Service, 1680 from the Federal Fire Service, and 21385 from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, totaling 32,361 personnel across board.
“We also want to emphasize again that Minister Ojo’s efforts in the Ministry of Interior should be evaluated independently of any associations or companies he might be affiliated with, in adherence to the principle of corporate personality.
“We wish to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving us BTO to champion your Renew Hope Agenda. We would support any willing Nigerian devoted and committed to advancing the course of Nigeria and Nigerians”, the group commended.