Interior Minister Highlights Reform Gains as Nigeria Pushes Digital Transformation in Public Service

Published By Ayshatu S Rabo On May 20, 2026

Interior Minister Highlights Reform Gains as Nigeria Pushes Digital Transformation in Public Service

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said Nigeria’s public service is entering a new phase of measurable reform and delivery, driven by innovation, accountability and digital transformation.

He made the remarks at the International Civil Service Conference (ICSC) 2026 held under the theme “Reforms, Resilience and Results,” where senior government officials, ministers and heads of agencies gathered to assess ongoing transformation in the civil service.

The event was attended by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, senior public servants and heads of extra-ministerial departments, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

Tunji-Ojo said the Nigerian public service was no longer in a phase of debate about reform but one focused on implementation and results, stressing that meaningful transformation requires clarity of vision and the courage to execute reforms.

He noted that since 2023, the Ministry of Interior has implemented a series of reforms aimed at improving efficiency, security and service delivery across key institutions.

According to him, the ministry established a centralised passport personalisation centre in Abuja, described as the first of its kind since 1963, with the capacity to produce thousands of secure passports per hour.

He also highlighted the introduction of the E-Visa platform, which has significantly reduced application processing times and is projected to handle close to 200,000 approvals within the year.

The Minister further disclosed that the Centralised Interior Management and Administration System (SIMAS) has been deployed to integrate border control, visa processing and passport systems into a unified database containing over 220 million records.

On correctional reforms, he said rehabilitation programmes, education initiatives and skills training in correctional centres have contributed to a sharp reduction in recidivism, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has recorded progress in combating illegal mining activities.

Tunji-Ojo attributed the reforms to innovation, inter-agency collaboration and data-driven governance, noting that sustained digital transformation remains central to improving public trust in government services.

He commended the organisers of the conference for providing a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing among public service leaders.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to building a more efficient, secure and technology-driven public service capable of delivering improved outcomes for citizens.