Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday, paid an unscheduled visit to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, to assess service delivery and staff performance.
The visit formed part of his ongoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency and ending delays across agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
During the inspection, the minister questioned officers on the number of enrolments completed at the time of his visit. Officials said they had enrolled only seven applicants, with each enrolment taking about three minutes.
Tunji-Ojo quickly calculated the figures and expressed concern over the low output, noting that the number did not match the time already spent at work.
Officers told the minister that the office opened to applicants around 9:30 a.m., even though the official resumption time is 8:00 a.m.
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The minister faulted the late start, stressing that applicants were already expected to be present by 9:00 a.m. He said the delay contributed directly to slow service delivery.
Tunji-Ojo observed several applicants waiting downstairs and at other units, including the capturing section. While he acknowledged that queues can occur, he criticised the failure to manage the crowd properly.
“Our responsibility is to be efficient. Our responsibility is not to keep people waiting,” he said.
He added that government offices must respect the time of citizens, many of whom still need to report to work or attend to other duties.
Poor Coordination Highlighted
The minister questioned why enrolment and capturing were not done at the same time, especially since different officers and systems handle both tasks.
He rejected claims that the workload was too heavy and insisted that better coordination would reduce waiting time and improve service quality.
Officers also disclosed that they handled seven error-correction cases for the day, with each taking about three minutes.
Again, Tunji-Ojo pointed out that the figures showed underuse of official working hours.
Warning to Immigration Officers
The minister reminded officers that service delivery goes beyond attending to applicants. He said staff must serve the public promptly, respectfully and efficiently.
“It is not enough to serve people. You must serve them well,” he said.
The visit sends a clear message to immigration officers nationwide that lateness, poor coordination, and slow service will no longer be tolerated under the current reform drive.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
