Jonathan bans printing of government documents abroad, unveils new national ID Card

The Federal Government of Nigeria has placed a ban on the printing of government documents outside the country. Only documents the Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company (NSMPC) confirm it cannot handle would be done abroad.

The announcement was made in Abuja on Thursday, August 29, 2014, by President Goodluck Jonathan during the unveiling of the new National Electronic Identity Card (e-ID card) produced by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

He also said that voters’ cards for subsequent elections in the country would be printed locally.
His words: “The key thing is to strengthen our institutions and that is why I am happy with NIMC. NIMC almost went the way of Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Shipping Line and Ajaokuta; everything just died. Now NIMC is coming back.

“In fact, when I appointed the new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, I told him that the Nigeria Security and Minting Company must be reformed. The board must look into management and get choice global players who are into this business to partner with them.

“There is no way we are doing local government election, electing House of Assembly members, electing governors in Oyo, Ekiti, Adamawa and all what we will produce will be done outside this country. Why?

“So, Mint must be restructured; and both INEC and other bodies too. For the Federal Executive Council, we cannot give approval for any printing whether passport or anything except Mint say they cannot produce that. As far as Mint can produce it, we must produce everything in this country.
“But then those who will use these services must have their credibility to protect, that means Mint must be in a position to tell INEC Chairman that ‘whatever I give you, the security devices are okay and you will get the result you want’.

He commended former President, Olusegun Obasanjo for signing into law the NIMC Act, from which evolved the e-ID card, describing it as a vital tool that will help the government appropriately plan welfare schemes and subsidise numerous social services for Nigerians.
He also said:“We must at the onset keep in mind that the journey to capture the populace, by issuing over 100 million cards has just begun.

“You should therefore ensure that the issuance process is prompt and swift enough to enable many more Nigerians obtain their own e-ID Cards, as soon as possible.