Nigerians globally hailed Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for the automated passport portal that was successfully launched on Monday across the globe.
A cross-section of elated Nigerians who were interviewed on Monday described the innovative online passport portal as a deserved benefit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
While speaking on the successfully launched online passport portal, Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ascribed credit for the project to the visionary leadership and support given by President Tinubu.
“This project is a success today because of the vision, support, and enabling environment created by the president. I am bold to say that credit for this project should be given to President Tinubu because nothing could have been achieved without his support, encouragement, and visionary leadership.
“I am indeed grateful to the father of our nation for his trust and confidence in my ability. Notwithstanding the project’s success, we have only been inspired to do more and continually justify the confidence reposed in us by the president.”
Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo was upbeat that the online passport portal would drastically reduce contact between applicants and immigration officers. He also added that it would speed up the entire process of obtaining a new passport by Nigerians in any part of the world.
“This initiative is sure to bring relief to all Nigerians who desire to obtain the nation’s passport. The portal has undoubtedly ended the long waiting period for passport issuance. It has also ended the cycle of daily man-hour waste by passport applicants,” said Tunji-Ojo.
![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")