By Mercy Aikoye
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has revealed that his ministry successfully executed multi-billion Naira capital projects in 2024, despite receiving zero capital allocation. This impressive feat was achieved by reviewing and enforcing existing contracts, ensuring contractors fulfilled their obligations.
Some of these contracts dated back to 1999 and had been abandoned by contractors, either in breach of contract terms or under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or concession agreements. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the ministry achieved these milestones without incurring additional costs to the government.
The minister highlighted several completed projects, including automation e-gates, command and control centers, resource centers, visa approval centers, solar farms, and other initiatives. He attributed the success to “thinking outside the box” and implementing value proposition management to ensure contractors fulfilled their obligations.
Tunji-Ojo shared specific examples of contractors who had failed to deliver on their commitments. One contractor had not built a visa approval center, despite having a contract to do so. Another contractor had implemented software for border control solutions but failed to deliver the necessary hardware.
The minister credited his background as an IT consultant with over 20 years of experience for enabling him to design and oversee these solutions effectively. He assured the committee that no public funds were used for the commissioned projects, and no new contracts or concessions were signed.
Tunji-Ojo’s approach focused on accountability and ensuring maximum value for Nigeria. He emphasized that contractors must fulfill their existing obligations, rather than relying on new agreements or PPPs. The construction of a four-megawatt solar farm, valued at approximately $4 million, was cited as a notable example.
After presenting the proposed 2025 budget, Tunji-Ojo pledged to continue leveraging technology and reforms to address challenges and improve efficiency. He warned that contractors who fail to deliver value to the government will be held accountable.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and the House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu, commended the Minister for surpassing the 2024 revenue target despite the zero capital allocation. However, the Minister apologized for omitting tender fees in the budget proposal and promised to provide the details promptly.
