By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has urged leaders and staff of the Ministry to focus on present actions that will shape the nation’s future, stressing that past achievements should inspire greater performance rather than complacency.
“Yesterday belongs to history. What truly defines our future is what we do today. While we have recorded significant milestones, we must continue to raise the bar and pursue greater achievements in delivering efficient services to Nigerians,” the Minister said.

Tunji-Ojo made the remarks during the 2026 Management Retreat of the Ministry of Interior and its agencies, where he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutional reforms, improving service delivery, and enhancing internal security administration through accountability and performance-driven leadership.

The Minister commended the leadership and staff of the Ministry for their dedication to ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He noted that the Ministry of Interior plays a strategic role in national governance, with responsibilities spanning identity management, border administration, correctional services, internal security, and citizenship services that directly affect the daily lives of Nigerians.

Tunji-Ojo also praised the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, for her administrative leadership and commitment to implementing key performance agreements and institutional reforms.

According to him, the Ministry’s recent successes are the result of collaborative efforts between the management team, agency heads, and personnel working to improve operational efficiency and ensure effective policy implementation.
In her remarks, Ajani described the retreat as an important platform for institutional reflection, performance evaluation, and strategic planning aimed at strengthening accountability across the Ministry and its agencies.

She said the theme of the retreat, “Accountable Leadership: Measuring Impact, Refining Results and Renewing Commitments,” underscores the Ministry’s determination to ensure that leadership translates into measurable outcomes for citizens.
Ajani stressed that the Ministry’s mandate—covering internal security administration, border management, citizenship, and migration services—remains central to national stability and socio-economic development.
“Accountability is fundamental to our operations because the work of our agencies touches the lives of millions of Nigerians every day. Our responsibility is to ensure that our policies, programs, and reforms deliver measurable improvements in service delivery,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary explained that reforms have been intensified to strengthen institutional capacity, modernise operational systems, enhance transparency, and improve inter-agency collaboration in line with national development priorities.

She also highlighted the importance of data-driven performance management, clear key performance indicators, and strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks that would enable the Ministry to shift from activity-based reporting to outcome-based governance.

Ajani further emphasised the role of digital transformation in improving efficiency across identity management systems, border control operations, and emergency response coordination, noting that technology-driven reforms would enhance transparency and reduce operational inefficiencies.

Despite the growing role of technology, she maintained that human capital remains the Ministry’s most valuable asset, calling for continued investment in staff development, ethical standards, and a merit-based performance culture.
She also urged stronger collaboration with government institutions, security agencies, sub-national authorities, and international partners to enhance internal security administration and policy coordination.
Participants at the retreat were encouraged to engage in open dialogue, identify operational gaps, and develop practical solutions that will lead to improved border governance, more efficient citizenship services, stronger correctional administration, enhanced emergency preparedness, and increased public trust in government institutions.

The retreat brought together top management staff of the Ministry, heads of agencies, and senior officials to review performance indicators, refine policy strategies, and develop actionable frameworks for improved service delivery across the interior sector.