…demands transparent process
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the plan by the Federal Government to privatise some of the country’s assets.
The government has listed the assets to be privatized to include the country’s four refineries, the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, Zungeru Hydro Power, and Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
Atiku declared his support for the plan in a statement entitled ‘Privatisation of Refineries and Other Assets: Better Late Than Never,’ and demanded the privatization process should be transparent.
The government has said it expects to rake in as much as N493.4bn from the sale of the assets.
Atiku was excited that the privatisation of public assets, which he once championed as Nigeria’s vice president, but was rejected by the ruling All Progressives Congress government, is now being embraced by the same administration.
“For decades, I have championed the privatisation of our economy and full deregulation of our oil and gas sector, amongst other sectors, for greater service delivery and efficiency,” said Atiku, who was Vice President to Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2003..
“As chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, I advanced these policies which saw our economy achieve 6% GDP growth and created jobs for the masses of our people and amass the national wealth that enabled us to exit the debt trap, and secure our financial independence.
“Even though my ideas were scorned by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government over the years, I am nevertheless most fulfilled that an administration that once failed to see the wisdom in these sound economic policies, is now facing reality and has now embraced reason, by announcing the privatisation of our refineries and other assets, which have not always prospered under public management.
“It is always better late than never. And I commend the Federal Government for coming on board. I urge that the privatisation process be as transparent as possible, as that is the only way to ensure that Nigeria reaps the greatest economic benefits from this policy.
“It was never about me. My interest has always been the peace, prosperity, and progress of Nigeria, and I am happy to share these ideas, and others, with the government of the day, for the betterment of our nation and its people,” he demanded.
