The Federal Government has commenced steps to revive the long-abandoned Government Printer facility in Abuja, following an inspection by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
During the visit on Thursday, the Minister described the abandonment of the multi-billion-naira facility as unacceptable, saying it contradicts the Federal Government’s commitment to prudence, accountability and efficient management of public assets under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Idris noted that the project, whose foundation was laid in 2001 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is about 70 per cent completed. He expressed concern that high-grade printing equipment supplied as far back as 2007, including machines imported from Germany and India, remain unopened and unused, with some now rendered obsolete due to years of neglect.
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He said the prolonged abandonment has forced the government to outsource sensitive printing jobs that should ordinarily be handled internally by the Government Printer, thereby undermining efficiency and national capacity.
The inspection also revealed that critical infrastructure at the site, including a 2000 KVA generator installed in 2011, has never been put to use.
The Minister explained that the visit was aimed at conducting a firsthand assessment and proper stock-taking to guide informed recommendations to President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council on revitalising the facility.
He assured that the Federal Government would take decisive steps to recover value from the abandoned asset and prevent further waste, stressing that the administration would no longer tolerate the deterioration of public investments.
Idris reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, responsible governance and ensuring that public funds deliver value to Nigerians.
