From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
In a call to action for economic revitalisation, Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to focus on maximizing the value of Nigeria’s core national assets.
He made the appeal during the council’s fourth meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, where he underscored the critical role these assets play in the economic agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President highlighted the importance of the council’s work, particularly in the context of Nigeria’s current economic challenges. “Maximizing value from core national assets is a key tenet of the economic agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated. “As a council, we must play our part in unlocking the national prosperity that Mr. President works towards every day.”
He emphasised that members of the NCP have a responsibility to provide constructive leadership for the Nigerian people. He cautioned that their decisions would be scrutinised by future generations, saying, “Posterity will judge us kindly if we make efforts to be fair to the Nigerian people. Our people need our leadership.”
The meeting featured comprehensive reports from various committees, including finance, technical, and legal, all of which were approved and ratified by the council.
Notably, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Gbeleyi, presented a proposed 2025 work plan focused on revenue-generating projects and enhancing concession management capacity.
Gbeleyi also provided updates on significant initiatives such as the establishment of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), aimed at improving grid management and ensuring transparency and reliability in power distribution. The council also reviewed progress reports on restructured electricity distribution companies in Kano, Kaduna, Benin, and Ibadan, along with regulatory updates affecting electricity markets across several states.
Other critical topics discussed included operations at key hydropower plants—Zungeru, Kainji, and Jebba—and a proposal to relocate four turbines from Afam power plant to Ughelli power plant to bolster power supply to the national grid.
The meeting was attended by several key figures, including Ministers Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning), Mr. Adebayo Adelabu (Power), and Joseph Utsev (Water Resources and Sanitation), alongside other NCP members.