The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, has passed a vote of confidence in the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, citing reforms in passport administration, correctional services and youth empowerment.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 20, 2026, and signed by the zone’s Coordinator, Josiah Adeyemo, the association said its assessment was based on what it described as “outcomes that can be seen, measured and felt by the people.”
NANS said it had monitored the activities of the Ministry of Interior since Tunji-Ojo assumed office on August 21, 2023, and identified reforms it said had affected public services.
The association highlighted the clearance of 204,332 passport applications in three weeks in 2023. The Federal Ministry of Information confirmed on October 5, 2023, that the Nigeria Immigration Service had cleared the backlog of passports that were outstanding for production. THISDAY also reported that the backlog was cleared after the minister directed increased printing capacity and longer working hours by immigration personnel.
NANS also cited contactless passport renewal, increased automation of immigration processes and the deployment of electronic gates at international airports among the reforms it credited to the ministry.
The Ministry of Interior has previously said the passport reforms included the creation of a centralised passport personalisation centre and measures aimed at reducing human interaction in the application process.
On youth empowerment, NANS commended Tunji-Ojo’s support for the “Students to CEO 2.0” Entrepreneurship Summit held in Akure, Ondo State, on September 1, 2026.
BusinessDay reported that 200 students from 10 tertiary institutions received business equipment under the programme, with 20 beneficiaries selected from each institution. The equipment included items for fashion designing, hairdressing, technology and other entrepreneurial activities.
NANS National President Babatunde Akinteye said beneficiaries of the previous edition had established businesses, while calling on governments to expand direct empowerment programmes for students, particularly in agriculture and small-scale businesses.
The student body also pointed to the release of more than 4,000 inmates whose fines and compensation obligations were settled as part of correctional-centre decongestion efforts.
Tunji-Ojo said in July 2026 that an audit conducted after he assumed office found more than 4,000 inmates held over fines and compensation of less than N500,000. He said settling the cases reduced the population of correctional centres by about 5% in one day.
NANS urged President Bola Tinubu to sustain support for the Ministry of Interior’s reforms and called on state governments and lawmakers to expand practical empowerment programmes for young Nigerians.
