Buhari stops printing of e-passport abroad, vests authority to print on NSPMC

President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled the printing of e-passport abroad and vested authority to do the printing job on the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).

The development was contained in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Thursday.

“President Buhari has directed that the production and personalization of all Nigerian E-passports and related documentation shall be the sole responsibility of the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company (NSPMC).

“Popularly known as The Mint, the company was established in 1963 with the objective of producing the nation’s currency notes and coins for the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as security documents for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Govt, banks and other blue chip companies.

“With the new directive from the President, all existing memoranda of understanding and contracts on printing by other institutions/companies will not be renewed.

“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.

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“Under the chairmanship of the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, new targets were set, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of The Mint, Mr. Abbas Umar Masanawa recounts 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,” the statement read in part.

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