FG to privatise airports, others soon —BPE

The Nigerian Federal Government has concluded plans to put up all the rehabilitated airports for privatisation.

This hint was dropped by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Ezra Dikki, at the just concluded 9th Abuja International Trade Fair organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCIMA).

Mr Dikki said the bureau was in the process of engaging experts to design an appropriate framework for the concession of the airports, after which the Ministry of Aviation and the bureau would begin the process to concession the airports.

Other enterprises on the card for sale this year, he said, included residential houses/land of NCC, sale of Naraguta and Maiduguri Bricks, sale of non-core assets of Makeri and Mineral Houses, residential houses/vacant land and sale of Ogwashi-Azagba Coal Block.

Other prospective transactions are sale of NMC Joint Venture and Associated Companies, sale of Owupa Coal Block, sale of core assets of Nigeria Coal Corporation (NCC) in Inyi, Amansiodo, Okpara and Onyema Coal Blocks; core assets of Nigeria Coal Blocks; resolve issues involving the coal to power contracts and conclude arbitration with GINL and develop strategies for the privatisation of Ajaokuta Steel Company and NIOMCO.

'The Bureau was also tasked with carrying out the reform of the housing sector, concession of stadia and the national parks, privatisation of Abuja Stock and Commodity Exchange (ASCE) and development of Finance Institutions (DFIs).

'The concept paper for sports reform and concession of stadia has been sent to the National Sports Commission (NSC), for inputs and the response are being awaited. For the National Parks, the work of the Steering Committee is ongoing and the Project Advisory Team (PAT) is compiling its final report for submission to the Steering Committee.

'The PAT has already compiled recommendations on the legal and regulatory framework for the sector and will soon present same,' he said.

Equally, he said, the NCP also approved the reform of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) during the year.

'The restructuring plan for the FHA has been submitted to the technical board for review, while the recommendations for the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks for the housing sector are being finalized for the consideration of the board and NCP,' the privatisation boss noted.