“Visa is a privilege but passport is a right.”
On clearing the passport backlog, October 2023
Vanguard, 4 Oct 202307 / In his words
WORDS.
WITH CONTEXT.
A selection of public statements, with attribution and sources.
“For an organisation to develop, you have to concentrate on building strong institutions rather than strong personalities.”
On rewriting the NDDC Act, March 2021
Vanguard, 4 Mar 2021“Life was not rosy for us while growing up, but my mother never ceased to fighting for a better reality for me even after losing her husband.”
On his mother’s birthday, January 2022
Triangle Magazine, 16 Jan 2022“A prison is a place of incarceration, whereas a correctional centre should focus on reformation, transformation, and rehabilitation.”
On correctional reform, October 2024
Vanguard, 8 Oct 2024“You are the keepers of the future. Your ideas, courage, conviction and curiosity will determine the direction of our nation.”
To students of Obafemi Awolowo University, December 2025
Peoples Gazette, 13 Dec 2025“Yesterday belongs to history. What truly defines our future is what we do today.”
Ministry management retreat, March 2026
Ministry of Interior, 5 Mar 2026“Don’t judge us by what you hear. Judge us by what you see.”
Pull-quote on the official site, paired with the passport backlog
bto.ng — Home“Our creed will always remain Nigeria first, Nigeria second, and Nigeria always.”
On receiving Vanguard’s Personality of the Year award, 2024
bto.ng, 25 Jun 2024“What you have achieved in passport alone has given this country great reputation internationally.”
Commissioning BATTIC, December 2024
Blueprint, 11 Dec 2024