Kaduna/Afam: FG Gives Jan 31 Deadline For Expression Of Interest

The Federal Government, yesterday, announced that January 31, 2013 was the deadline for expression of interest from all pre-qualified bidders for Afam generating company and Kaduna distribution firm. The decision was taken at the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) meeting chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Chairman, technical committee of the NCP, Mr. Atedo Peterside, who gave the hint while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, noted that the date would be for the expression of interest and stressed that by 5pm on that day, the council would know those interested before the commencement of a bidding process.

He said that a work plan for 2013 was submitted to the council by the Bureau for Public Entreprises (BPE), but declined to give details just as he said that it was subject to discussion and modification.

Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Mohammed Sada, also hinted that NCP would commence the process of obeying the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) located in Ikot-Ibasi, Akwa Ibom state.

Council, he added, would enter into an agreement with the BFIG on the modalities for handing over the company, the amount to be paid, how to pay it among other requirements.

Minister of state for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, also disclosed council’s position on the concession of Tafawa Balewa Square and Trade Fair Complex.

He said, “Today, again, we had approval from the Council to implement the report of the Vice President’s committee on Tafawa Balewa Square and Trade Fair complex which emphasised that the two agencies should be positioned to run smoothly.

“There are issues that were hindering the smooth operations of these two agencies that were concessioned to the private sector. And the VP set up a committee which is made up of Ministry of Trade and Investment, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and BPE.

“We looked at all the issues and took far reaching decisions and made recommendations to the Council. And the NCP graciously gave approval for the implementation. So we are going to implement that and in the next few weeks, we are going to start action and this, we believe, will go a long way in re-positioning these two agencies to operate smoothly”.