Abuja: The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has decried the abandonment of the Federal Government Printing Press Project in Asokoro, Abuja.
Speaking after inspecting the facility, Idris described the situation as a “colossal waste,” noting that equipment supplied as far back as 2007 remains unopened in crates, with some already obsolete.
He recalled that the foundation stone was laid on Dec. 3, 2001, adding that some of the equipment was supplied as far back as 2007.
“It’s so sad that many of these equipment are still living in their crates. No one has even attempted to open them to see what is inside.
“Some of the technology has become really obsolete already. But at a time when the government is trying to preserve what it has, I think this is a time for stocktaking.
“This will enable us to look at what we need to do with this place so that we can bring it back to use for the benefit of Nigerians.
The Federal Government printing press is an official printer for the government; it prints many sensitive documents.
“Now, sometimes all these documents will have to go out to be printed. Even the official gazette, which should be printed by the Federal Ministry of Information, cannot be printed here directly.
“It’s heart-wrenching. It’s really very displeasing that we have this kind of edifice in the heart of Abuja, and successive administrations have done nothing about it.
The minister noted that year after year, applications are made for budgetary provisions, but they are not available.
According to him, this means that all the investments made were unable to be completed.
“Therefore, it’s all waste. We have come here to see things for ourselves, and we will go back to the office and make recommendations to the President on how to revitalise this place.
“The current situation of this place is not acceptable. A lot of money was sunk here, along with equipment, many of which were imported from Germany and India.
“They are all in their crates. They have not been opened for installation. At that time, we needed only a fraction of the money to complete this. But now, of course, with inflation, we know what that means.
“It’s billions of Naira being wasted here. So, we thought that we could not continue to close our eyes to see this facility wasting further. Therefore, something has to be done,” Idris stressed.
The minister added that the brand-new 2000 kVA generator provided for the facility in 2011 had never been used.
“This is 14 years now. No one does that. At a time when the nation is trying to look inward, to conserve its resources and use them for the benefit of Nigerians, we are seeing this colossal waste here. I feel really very sad”.
The foundation stone was laid in 2001, when work commenced, but work later stopped in 2016. Thereafter, hoodlums vandalised equipment in the administrative block and other facilities.
Those in the minister’s entourage included: the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Chinasa Ogbodo, and the Director.