By Palma Ileye
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has described the Nigeria Security, Printing and Minting Plc, as pride of the country saying that it was the sovereignty of Nigeria as a nation.
This is contained in press release issued yesterday by Afonja Fatai Ajibola, DD, Press and Public Relations Unit of the Interior Ministry.
Tunji-Ojo who made the declaration yesterday while hosting the NSPM Plc Management team in Abuja said that every one should be proud of the company.
He urged the company not to preoccupy itself with printing of currencies only, but inclusive of all other security documents in the country.
He said, left to him he would want to partner with the nation’s security printing company if the needed capacity and facilities were up to speed.
He said virtually all security documents, such as Driver’s license, Voter cards, National passports, certificates and examination documents should be produced by the company, stating that because of their security features.
Tunji-Ojo, however, acknowledged that he has come across the Presidential directive of harmonizing printing of security documents with Nigeria Security, Printing and Minting Plc.
He contended that for him, he was favourably disposed to that, as long as there was capacity and facilities to make it work.
He also conditioned the partnership with the NSPM Plc pending after data harmonization of the country’s database.
The Minister expressed gratitude to MD of the Security Printing and Minting Plc for inviting him and his team on the spot assessment of facilities in the company, for inform decision.
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director of the Company, Alh Ahmad Halilu, congratulated the Minister for the deserving appointment, while commending the Minister for the achievement he recorded in driving the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Halilu reminded the Minister of the Presidential directive for harmonization of all security printing documents to collaboratively carried out under his company, which he said has not been complied with.
He drew the attention of the Minister on the capacity of the Security Printing and Minting company, stating that they are as old as Nigeria.
He said since 2014 no single currency was imported to the country emphasizing that naira is produced by Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Plc, locally along with other security documents, such as election materials and other security documents.
Present at the event are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, some Directors and Senior aides of the Hon Minister.
