Many desire the crown and its glory but fail to embrace the responsibility and weight that come with it. Leadership is not a game of excuses, my friends. Too often, this is our reality especially in Nigeria, where the stories are always the same: predecessors are blamed, the opposition is accused, or the citizens are labeled as the problem.
A fitting example is the Ministry of Interior. In previous years, little was known about its work beyond the announcement of public holidays. That narrative changed with the appointment of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior. Through deliberate action and visionary direction, he has redefined and reintroduced the ministry in a brighter light, revitalizing its agencies, reforming their structures, and restoring pride among officers as well as confidence among Nigerians.
Every agency has experienced visible transformation:
- Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS): Swift clearance of over 204,000 passport backlogs; introduction of contactless biometric passports to enhance security and convenience; establishment of a Command & Control Centre for border monitoring; deployment of e-Gates at international airports; and creation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) for visa and biometric services.
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC): Creation of Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining; introduction of enhanced intelligence and surveillance systems; and promotion of thousands of officers to reduce career stagnation.
139m Nigerians living in poverty yet to feel impact of economic reforms – World Bank
- Federal Fire Service (FFS): Comprehensive reforms to strengthen welfare, promote officers, and boost rapid response capacity; with renewed advocacy for modernized fire legislation to meet global emergency standards.
- Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS): Decongestion of correctional centres through the release of over 4,000 inmates via fines and compensations (₦585 million); increase in daily feeding allowance to ₦1,125; renovation and modernization of facilities such as the Kuje Custodial Centre; introduction of the Correctional Information Management System (CIMS) for effective inmate tracking; and expansion of vocational and educational programs through partnerships with NOUN and other institutions.
These are not fanciful claims but visible realities, a renewed experience that Nigerians can attest to. His reforms have even extended to initiatives such as the Safe School Programme, ensuring the protection of students and learning environments across the nation.
His achievements have taught me a vital lesson: before desiring leadership, one must first ask, what value am I willing and prepared to offer those I seek to lead?
Adeniyi Zion writes from Abuja.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
