By Obasola Olatunde
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared that controversy surrounding the Minister of Interior, Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo are targeted at discrediting the Minister’s integrity and reform agenda.
Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard what it described as a “fabricated NYSC related scandal” in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Senate President, Usman Adamu Nagwaza, NANS described the allegations circulating in the media as politically motivated blackmail orchestrated by those uncomfortable with the Minister’s achievements in public service.
Nagwaza said it was laughable and suspicious that questions about Tunji Ojo’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) status were emerging only after his major reforms in the Ministry of Interior had begun gaining national attention.
“Where were these self acclaimed crusaders of truth when he served as a member of the House of Representatives, or during his ministerial screening and clearance process?”
“The sudden resurrection of these baseless claims clearly shows desperation to distract a hardworking public servant from his duties.” The statement queried.
The student body noted that all background checks on Dr. Tunji Ojo’s credentials had been duly conducted by relevant authorities before his appointment as Minister, insisting that the latest allegations were merely attempts to tarnish his image and by extension, the reputation of the Tinubu administration.
“This is not the first time public officers delivering results have become targets of smear campaigns,” Nagwaza added. “It is a pattern of distraction by those who cannot match the Minister’s record of performance and innovation.”
Defending the Minister’s performance, NANS said Tunji Ojo’s tenure has brought “historic progress” to the Ministry of Interior, particularly in passport issuance and service automation.
According to the statement, over 3.5 million passports have been produced since his assumption of office, including 466,117 processed for Nigerians in the diaspora, while automation of document uploads has saved the federal government over ₦1 billion annually.
The association also commended his introduction of Nigeria’s first high capacity passport production machine, capable of producing over 5,000 booklets daily, which has drastically reduced processing delays nationwide.
NANS appealed to President Tinubu to “protect reform minded leaders” like Dr. Tunji Ojo from politically motivated attacks that could discourage integrity driven leadership in government.
“Mr. President, the country cannot afford to lose a resourceful and visionary minister whose commitment to national service continues to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement read.
Recent reports on social media alleged discrepancies in Dr. Tunji Ojo’s NYSC documentation, sparking debate among political observers.
The Minister has not issued an official response, but several youth and civic groups have dismissed the allegations as an orchestrated campaign of calumny. Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a former member of the House of Representatives, currently oversees sweeping reforms in the Ministry of Interior, including digital passport processing, inmate data automation, and immigration service restructuring.