The Niger State Government has officially handed over the state-owned printing press to A. A. Helmer Solutions Limited for revitalisation and professional management under a three-year partnership arrangement.
The move is part of the reform agenda of Governor Umaru Muhammed Bago under the New Niger Agenda, which aims to reposition government institutions, enhance efficiency in public service delivery, and ensure agencies effectively carry out their statutory responsibilities.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the printing press premises, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Abdulrazaaq Mu’azu Jikantoro, stressed the importance of integrity, commitment and diligence in implementing the partnership.
Jikantoro explained that the revitalisation of the facility would strengthen government communication infrastructure, reduce reliance on external printing services and improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in the production of official government documents.
He also urged the management of A. A. Helmer Solutions Limited to honour the terms of the agreement by restoring the facility to optimal productivity while calling on staff of the printing press to cooperate fully in ensuring the success of the initiative.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator representing the company, Olumide Ajayi, assured the state government of the company’s readiness to meet its contractual obligations.
Ajayi pledged that the firm would deploy the required expertise and modern printing technology to revitalise the facility, improve service delivery and restore it to full productivity.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr. Idris A. Legbo, commended the state government for taking a strategic step to revive the printing press and strengthen institutional capacity within the public service.
According to him, the partnership is expected to boost the state’s internally generated revenue, create employment opportunities, improve services to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and position the printing press as a viable hub for both government and commercial printing services.
He added that the revitalisation initiative would support good governance by ensuring the timely production of official materials, improving operational efficiency across MDAs, and contributing to the broader institutional reform efforts of the present administration.
