The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said he would leave the outgone Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline Adepoju, in office for life if possible as a result of her sterling performance in office.
The minister said this during the pulling-out parade for the 18th Comptroller-General of Immigration at the service headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
“Thank you for your performance and I said this without any iota of reservation, if it is possible to have a life CG, I would have made you a life CG.
“This is because it is something for a minister to conceive an idea and it is another thing for the implementer to implement perfectly.
- Don’t leave Nigeria in the hands of politicians, UNILORIN VC tells professionals
- Over 100 killed as Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians trying to get food
“I want to thank you for setting a record of clearing over 200,000 backlogs of passports within two weeks,” he said.
He charged the new CG, Kemi Nandap, to continue from where her predecessor stopped, adding that border security should be given top priority.
“Build on what she has achieved because the foundation is solid. All that is needed for you to erect skyscrapers is there.”
On her part, the new CG, Nandap, while commending the outgone CG for her achievements within the short period in charge, promised to build on her accomplishments.
Speaking earlier, ex-CG Adepoju thanked the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing her as CG in the first place, adding that hers was the president’s first appointment after assuming the office.
“My colleagues in the service, you have all said very kind things about me, but I will never fail to call it to your attention that you made it possible. You brought out the very best in me, the crop of immigration officers that I worked with in the top management, they are the best team ever assembled by Nigeria,” she said.