NCP Appoints Transaction Advisers To Begin Reforms Of River Basins, Others

BARBARA BAKO, Abuja.

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the appointment of Advisers for three transactions scheduled by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for the current year (2018). They are Agri-Africa Consultants/A & E Law Partnership Consortium, Africa Wildlife Foundation and Messrs Feedback Infrastructure Services

The appointments made earlier this week have now kick-started the reforms strategy of the Federal Government for the affected sectors The Council in a statement on Thursday by the Head of Public Communications, BPE, Amina Othman, noted that the reform programmes include the partial commercialisation of the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), partial commercialisation of the National Parks Service and the seven National Parks and concession of eco-tourism activities in three selected parks, and the concession of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (LITFC).”

“Rising from its 4th Meeting for 2018 held on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and presided over by the Vice-Chairman and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Council approved the engagement of Agri-Africa Consultants/A & E Law Partnership Consortium for the transaction advisory services for the RBDAs.

“Similarly, it approved the engagement of Africa Wildlife Foundation for advisory services for the seven National Parks and concession of eco-tourism activities in three selected parks.

“For the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (LITFC), Messrs Feedback Infrastructure Services was approved as the transaction advisers.” It would be recalled that the Council approved the commencement of the partial commercialisation of the 12 RBDAs in the country.

The statement said the objective is to strengthen and improve the RBDAs by making them economically viable and to also introduce Public Private Partnership (PPP) into the sector without divesting government ownership. “The transaction is to be carried out in phases with the pilot transaction on four out of the 12  RBDAs.

“For the seven National Parks and concession of eco-tourism activities in three selected parks namely; kainji, Cross River and Gashaka-Gumti, Council also approved the commencement of the partial commercialization at its Meeting held on 22nd and 23rd August, 2017,” it added.