Minister reveals successful execution of multiple capital projects in 2024
By Tom Okpe
The Minister of Interior has revealed that the Ministry, successfully executed various multi-billion Naira capital projects in 2024, even those abandoned through Public Private Partnership, PPP, despite receiving zero capital allocation.
This achievement, he explained, was made possible by reviewing and enforcing existing contracts, compelling contractors to fulfill their obligations as stipulated in their agreements.
The Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made this known during the 2025 budget defense session before the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Interior on Friday, disclosing that some of the contracts dated back as 1999, had been abandoned by contractors, either in breach of contract terms or under Public-Private Partnership, PPP, or concession agreements.
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He noted that the Ministry achieved these milestones without incurring additional costs to the Government.
“We did not spend Government’s fund to do some of these things. What we did was to avoid entering into new contracts. Instead, we reviewed existing ones and implemented value proposition management to ensure contractors, fulfilled their obligations.
“We were able to complete automation e-gates, the command and control center, resource centers, visa approval centers, solar farms, and other projects by thinking outside the box.
“Example, someone with a contract for issuing visa approval centers, VACs, had not built a VAC center. We had to ensure they delivered. Another contractor providing border control solutions implemented the software component, but failed to deliver the hardware, which is essential for e-gate solutions. I made it clear that contracts cannot be implemented partially, they must be executed holistically,” he said.
He described the accountability measures instituted to ensure compliance, highlighting construction of a four-megawatt solar farm, valued at approximately $4 million.
“We didn’t enter into new agreements or PPP. We simply demanded that contractors fulfill their existing obligations. It’s about accountability and ensuring maximum value for Nigeria.”
The Minister credited his background as an IT consultant with over 20 years of experience, which enabled him to design and oversee these solutions, effectively.
“Most of these solutions were personally designed by me. I consulted directly, using my expertise to ensure that Government gets what it deserves.
“Every solution was derived from existing contracts. Not one Naira of public money was spent. It’s about ensuring Nigeria gains value from previously, signed agreements.”
After presenting the proposed 2025 budget, Tunji-Ojo pledged to continue leveraging technology and reforms to address challenges and improve efficiency, saying: “In 2025, we will intensify our efforts.
“If contractors do not bring value to the Government, they will be held accountable. We are not Father Christmas. PPP exists, because the Government cannot fund everything. Profit-sharing without delivering infrastructure is callous, wicked, and unacceptable,” he added.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Rep Abdullahi Aliyu, commended the Minister for surpassing the 2024 revenue target, despite the zero capital allocation.
