The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said Nigeria’s borders are now better protected, attributing the improvement to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening national security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tunji-Ojo made the remarks on Sunday in Lagos at the Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) Professional and Empowerment Summit 2025. The event was themed “The Right Man in Governance: Advancing Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

At the summit, the minister was honoured as TAMPAN Man of the Year in recognition of his performance in office. He was represented by a former Ondo State Commissioner, Dayo Awude.

Speaking at the event, Awude said the Ministry of Interior has recorded notable progress since the inauguration of the Tinubu administration, in line with the government’s reform agenda. He cited prison reforms, enhanced border security architecture, the deployment of electronic gates at major international airports, and innovations in passport administration as key achievements.

According to him, the ministry has also cleared about 200,000 passport application backlogs, a development he said has significantly improved public confidence in government service delivery.

“Passport administration is just one example of what has been achieved. Today, at airports in Lagos and Abuja, passengers can make use of e-gates without unnecessary contact with immigration officers,” he said.

“As long as you are a Nigerian citizen with a valid passport, you simply scan and proceed. That is how it should be. Our borders are better protected today, and our correctional facilities are also in a much better state than before.”

On the issue of the passport backlog, Awude said the problem was inherited from the previous administration but had to be urgently addressed.

“It was a challenge handed over from the past. Someone either failed to do the job or lacked the capacity to do it. The current minister demonstrated that the backlog could be cleared, and he delivered,” he said.

Responding to the honour bestowed on him, Tunji-Ojo described members of TAMPAN as the “conscience of the nation” and urged them to remain creative, original and purposeful in their work.

Earlier in his welcome address, TAMPAN Global President, Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, praised the minister for bringing innovation, clarity and renewed direction to the Ministry of Interior.

Amusan said the reforms implemented by Tunji-Ojo have helped restore public trust in key services that affect millions of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. He added that the minister has demonstrated courage and accountability by insisting on standards and prioritising national interest.

He noted that Tunji-Ojo’s performance aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and serves as an example of how effective leadership can strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable outcomes.

Amusan also described the creative industry as a vital tool for social reorientation, national unity and value projection, positioning it as a strategic partner in governance and nation-building.

He stressed that the honour conferred on the minister was neither commercial nor routine, but reserved for leaders whose contributions have made a lasting national impact.

The event featured a drama performance by TAMPAN’s national troupe and a colourful parade by members of the association’s state chapters.