The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the abandonment of a multi-billion-naira project initiated during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
The long-neglected Government Printer facility in Abuja was recently inspected by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
In a statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris described the facility as a glaring example of waste and neglect, contradicting the current government’s commitment to prudence, accountability, and efficient management of public resources under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the statement, the project, whose foundation stone was laid in 2001, is approximately 70 percent complete. The inspection revealed that several high-grade printing machines delivered as far back as 2007 remain sealed in their original crates, with some equipment now obsolete due to prolonged neglect. These machines were imported from countries including Germany and India.
“It is heart-wrenching to see this level of waste in the heart of Abuja. At a time when the government is focused on resource conservation and self-reliance, it is unacceptable that such a massive investment has been allowed to deteriorate year after year,” the minister said.
The Government Printer is the official printing arm of the Federal Government, responsible for producing sensitive national documents, including the Federal Government Gazette and other key publications of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The prolonged inactivity of the facility has forced the government to outsource printing jobs that should ideally be handled internally, leading to unnecessary expenditure.
The inspection also revealed that critical infrastructure remains unused, including a 2,000 KVA generator installed in 2011 that has never been put into operation.
Idris was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, the Acting Director of the facility, and other senior ministry officials. He said the visit was intended to allow leadership to assess the situation firsthand, conduct proper stock-taking, and make informed decisions on reviving the facility.
“We have come to see things for ourselves. We will return with concrete recommendations to Mr. President and the Federal Executive Council on the best way to revitalise this facility and put it to productive use for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.
