Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Ministry of Interior has beaten the Federal Civil Service December 2025 deadline with the launching of the Ministry of Interior Electronic Records and Archiving System (IntERAS) in Abuja on Monday.
According to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, all is now set for the Ministry to run mobile and on-the-move offices for its activities.
The launching of IntERAS, he noted, has also placed the Ministry as the 18th MDAs to beat the deadline.
In his keynote address at the launching, Dr. Tunji-Ojo said that the system will be replicated in all the government agencies under the ministry.
His words: “I am extremely delighted to be here today. This is 2025, not 1975. Technology must play its role in governance. You can not run any process without catalysts, and technology is that catalyst that speeds up the rate of progress.
“I have always maintained that technology will never replace human capacity, but it will enhance it and make us more efficient.
“As an IT person myself, I fully understand the value of IntERAS. My policy has always been that no file stays overnight on my desk.
“With this system, I can now work on the move, run a mobile office, and process documents faster and more efficiently.” he said
He also stressed that the new solution is now an integral part of the public service because the Citizenship and Business Department in the Ministry is now fully automated.
He said: “You apply online for citizenship, business permits, or even marriage licenses. No more paperwork. Similarly, quota administration is now fraud-proof through harmonized data with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
“Today, we issue electronic SEPAC instead of manual forms that once forced applicants to travel across local governments just to make purchases.
“We also built an 8.3 petabyte, Tier-4 data centre to ensure government retains ownership of its data, powered by solar for sustainability.”
He further stated that Nigerian borders are now monitored with advanced surveillance.
The Minister also stated that the United Nations-mandated Advanced Passenger Information System has enabled immigration officers to always know who is entering Nigeria before they arrive at the entry points.
According to him, profiling of visitors to the country is no longer subjective but now objective and data-driven.
He also stated that the Federal Fire Service has leveraged this technology and automation to monitor response times with verifiable data.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for his “strategic leadership” and unwavering support that made these reforms in the Federal Civil Service possible.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the President has never turned down any memo relating to public service transformation.
The Minister maintained that the ultimate objective behind the launching of the IntERAS is to get the Ministry fully automated and all its agencies integrated into IntERAS.
For attaining this feat, the Minister commended the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the directors and other key staff of the Ministry.
“Contrary to the stereotype some people have about civil servants, my experience in the last two years has shown me that the Ministry of Interior is blessed with some of the best people in public service.
“The transformation you see here today is not funded by government allocations, but by the dedication and sacrifice of our officers who worked sleepless nights to deliver.” he stated
The Minister singled out the consultants, including the team from Zimedi, for special commendation for their help to raise the Ministry’s performance index from 62% to 85%.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo said the guiding principle of his leadership in the Ministry is building a culture of raising strong institutions not anchored on any strong individual.
“Together, we will continue to transform the Ministry of Interior into a model of efficiency, transparency, and digital excellence.” the Minister stated
Prior to the launching of IntERAS, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, enjoined other MDAs to key into the digitization process.
She avered that the December 2025 deadline for Federal Civil Service to go paperless is feasible.
While commending the Minister of Interior, Walson-Jack stated: “By steering the Ministry of Interior to become the 18th ministry to go live on the ECM platform, you have proven that with vision, teamwork, and commitment, digital transformation is achievable.
“This is no small feat, and I applaud you and your entire team with pride and admiration. Honourable Minister, I can confidently say: eighteen done, twenty to go. The December 31 deadline for a paperless civil service is indeed feasible.”
According to Walson-Jack, the launching of the IntERAS goes beyond the ministry as it aligns fully with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“His Excellency has been unequivocal in his desire for a public service that is efficient, transparent, and digitally enabled.”
“Let me use this moment to send a clear message to other ministries and extra-ministerial departments: if the Ministry of Interior can do it, so can you.
“Time is ticking, and December 31 is around the corner. Get on board now, or risk being left behind.”
Commending Dr Tunji-Ojo, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, said, “Under your dynamic and reform-minded leadership, the Ministry of Interior has become a model of innovation and efficiency in the public service.
“You have demonstrated vision in digital reforms, modernizing passport issuance, streamlining visa and residence permit applications, and strengthening border management systems.
“These efforts have touched millions of lives directly, including ours, when guests from outside the country were able to obtain visas seamlessly and in record time.” she added
She further enjoined the ministry to ensure that the Performance Management System (PMS) is automated in the ministry.
While commending Galaxy Backbone, for the work done so far, Walson-Jack challenged it to redouble its efforts, scale up innovations, and support MDAs even more strongly.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Ajani disclosed that it took the Ministry nine months to complete work on the IntERAS.
According to her, the Ministry has 275 computers and has plans to acquire more. She said that presently, all the departments in the ministry virtually have computers to work.
She also stated that staff of the Ministry can easily get on the Internet and work from anywhere in the world.
The Ministry, at the end of the launching, also commissioned its ICT Room
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