FG Cancels Passport Printing Contract Abroad

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that the production and personalisation of all e-passports and related documentation to be the sole responsibility of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC). The Mint company was established in 1963 with the objective of producing the nation’s currency notes and coins for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as security documents for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, banks and other blue chip companies. Femi Adesina, the special adviser on media and publicity to the president, in a statement isued on Thursday, July 11, said that with the new directive from the president, all existing memoranda of understanding and contracts on printing by other institutions/ companies would not be renewed. The statement read: “The Mint is the largest banknote and security documents specialist printing company in West Africa. However, its performance was rapidly dwindling in terms of both currency production and security documents prior to 2014.” He said under the chairmanship of the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, the new targets were set and managing director/chief executive officer of The Mint, Abbas Umar Masanawa, recounted some of the achievements to include: zero importation of currency from 2014 to date, with attendant benefits of conservation of foreign reserve, revenue and employment generation, as well as safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty. According to the statement, Masanawa said: “The Mint has returned to profitability. From a moribund organisation with heavy losses, the company grew from a loss position of N14. 6 million in 2014 to a profit of N14. 3 billion in 2018. Turnover also grew from N17.8 billion in 2014 to N61. 4 billion in 2018. “Other achievements include enhanced production capacity, revenue diversification, reduced cost of production, institutionalization of corporate governance, improved staff welfare and industrial harmony, among others.” The managing director pledged that The Mint would justify the renewed confidence reposed in it by the president, adding that, “as we are moving to the Next Level, and poised to boost national security and integrity, we will conserve scarce foreign exchange, improve revenue generation, create job opportunities, and boost acquisition/transfer of technology.” Meanwhile,President Buhari wrote the Senate to confirm the Justice Tanko Muhammad as Nigeria's substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).