15 February 2014, Abuja – The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC)- owners of National Independent Power Plants (NIPPs) have said the June deadline fixed for the privatisation of the plants remains sacrosanct.
The two agencies, in separate interviews with The Nation, insisted there is no change in the programmes outlined for the privatisation of the plants.
BPE’s Spokesman, Joe Anichebe, said the exercise would go on whether the power plants are completed before June or not.
He said: ‘’Failure to complete the projects cannot be a reason for the postponement of the privatisation scheme. The investors know this before they agree to bid for the plants. Only the National Council on Privatisation can say whether the sale of the plants to investors would be shifted forward or not.’’
Also, NDPHC’s spokesman, Yakubu Lawal said the non-completion of the projects could not derail the process.
He said the story that the sale of the plants might be postponed due to inability to complete them as published in a national daily( not The Nation) was incorect.
– The Nation