…says administration has delivered on recruitment, prison reforms, public safety
By John Alechenu
ABUJA — Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oyetunde Ojo, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as its achievements in job creation, security and people-oriented reforms.
Speaking on an Arise Television programme monitored in Abuja on Monday, Ojo said the FHA had not recruited staff for more than 20 years until the Tinubu administration approved fresh recruitment.
He said the authority had recruited 400 staff, adding that the administration had also opened recruitment into the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the military and forest guard initiatives, among others.
“We have now recruited 400 staff. The President has also opened up recruitments in Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, the military, forest guards, etc., thus improving access to employment and job creation,” he said.
Ojo also defended the proposal for state police, dismissing concerns that such a structure could be abused for political purposes.
“Are state police not human beings? They are, and the Constitution will give them their role,” he said.
He recalled similar concerns raised when the late former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, led his South-West counterparts to establish the regional security outfit, Amotekun.
“The fear back then was that Amotekun would be used to win elections. Now, the issue of Amotekun has gone past all of us. What effect did that have on the last election? During the last election, did you see Amotekun?” he asked.
On emergency response, particularly the Nigeria Fire Service, Ojo said response time had improved significantly under the current administration.
“Even the fire service now has a shorter response time of about 10 to 15 minutes. There was a first outbreak in FESTAC and before I put a call across, they were already there putting out the fire,” he said.
He also said President Tinubu receives regular intelligence briefings on security developments.
Recalling the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, Ojo said he had expressed confidence that the President would prioritise the safe recovery of the victims.
“Thank God, I told them during the Oyo children kidnap saga, I told them the President will not deploy excessive force because of those children. And thank God my words then were that they would be brought back home,” he said.
Ojo also addressed the controversy surrounding a recent proposal by former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, to restore fuel subsidy if elected.
He said Tinubu had fulfilled campaign promises, including the removal of fuel subsidy and his position on state police.
“Before Tinubu became President, he spoke about his plans for subsidy removal and his position on state police. He has achieved this. Let his opponents come out and tell what they can do differently,” Ojo said.
He added: “If I have an opportunity to sit with my respected father, Atiku, I will tell him, you can contest and win, but subsidy is gone and gone for good. My message to my fathers who are contesting is that they should sit down and try to analyse, go to the streets.”
The FHA boss also highlighted what he described as reforms in the correctional system, including inmate education, vocational training, feeding and prison decongestion.
According to him, about 11,000 inmates had been released or benefited from interventions after the Tinubu administration assumed office, while the number of inmates who returned to correctional facilities after being involved in new offences had dropped to about 1,400.
“As I speak to you, those in prison, close to 30 inmates are doing their master’s degrees, close to 400 inmates are doing their first degrees inside prison. Close to 1,000 are learning artisan skills,” he said.
Ojo also claimed that feeding for inmates had improved significantly.
“Look at feeding, the feeding has improved by 50 per cent. Inmates now eat nutritious food because feeding has improved,” he said.
On healthcare and decongestion of correctional facilities, Ojo said the Federal Government and some agencies had cleared more than N600 million in outstanding debts.
“President Tinubu and some agencies have cleared over N600 million debts. What has that done? It has reduced prison congestion by 30 per cent. You can ask the Minister of Interior,” he said.
Ojo further commended reforms at the nation’s airports, particularly initiatives being implemented through the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“See what the Ministry of Interior is doing through the Immigration Service. People just fly in from Lagos to Abuja, London. If you see what is going on at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, you will praise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being the President of Nigeria,” he said.
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