BPE READS RIOT ACT TO BIDDERS OVER KADUNA DISCO, AFAM

BY Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
ABUJA-Acting Director-General, DG, of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has warned that he would not bend the privatisation guidelines for any prospective investor with respect to selling the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc and the Afam Power Plc to private operators.

Speaking at the pre-due diligence conference for the re-tender of Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc, in Abuja, Monday, he warned that BPE had zero tolerance for non-compliance with the terms of the Request for Proposals, RFP, for the transactions earlier sent to bidders.

Expressions of Interest, EoIs, were received from 19 firms for Kaduna Disco, while Afam Power plant attracted 30.

According to the new BPE helmsman, 'bids that are submitted late will be rejected immediately and proposals not submitted in substantial compliance to the RFP will also be neglected. Our philosophy is that only the very best is good enough for Nigeria.'

Dikki, who midwifed the signing of Share Purchase Agreements, SPAs, of 10 DisCos and five GensCos in Abuja, penultimate week, said a lot of experiences were gained from the earlier exercise, which would positively impact on the current one.