August 12, 2025 – The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Nigerian citizenship documentation.
Speaking after receiving the Joint House Committee on Alleged Cases of Certificate Racketeering, chaired by Honourable Abubakar Hassan Fulata, he stressed the urgent need to tackle fraudulent practices in academic and citizenship records.
“Our deliberations centred on the imperative of ensuring the integrity of Nigerian citizenship documentation, particularly in relation to certificate racketeering,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He noted that robust verification systems will be implemented to ensure that only legitimate citizens with verified credentials can access national opportunities.
The meeting also examined the role of data integration in combating certificate racketeering, which often exploits existing gaps in the system. According to the minister, the government is aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda by creating a unified system for tracking both academic and citizenship records.
He emphasised that systemic vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s citizenship and educational frameworks would be addressed by prioritising citizenship integrity and improved data integration.
“Our ultimate goal is to restore confidence in the nation’s institutions,” he said, adding that the new measures will strengthen transparency, close loopholes, and protect the credibility of the country’s official records.