Shettima seeks close collaboration among MDAs

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged close collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to actualise the agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration across different sectors.

Shettima made the call during the meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It was reported that the council, chaired by the Vice-President, ratified the 2021 and 2022 audit financial reports of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The council also approved the progress made so far by the BPE in the implementation of its 2024 work plan aimed at strengthening its operations.

Its also directed the BPE to further engage with the relevant parties in the resolution of the dispute in the sale of the Sapele II (Ogorode Generation Company Ltd), and the sale of coal blocks belonging to the Nigerian Coal Corporation.

Shettima commended the new management of the BPE for its diligence and renewed vision, urging stakeholders to support the realisation of the bureau’s set objectives.

He also applauded the agency for its close supervision and conclusion of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant concession, and efforts to establish an Independent System Operator.

Shettima further tasked the agency to work with the various committees of the NCP and the Ministry of Justice, and come up with a robust road map to expedite the completion of outstanding transactions in the interest of the nation.

He noted that making important decisions in the power sector would be critical to tackling the perennial issues in the country’s energy industry.

The Director-General of BPE, Mr Ayodeji Gbeleyi, reported that the bureau generated the sum of N93.47 billion in the first and second quarters of the year 2024 from three transactions.

Gbeleyi stated that the transaction represented 35.9 per cent of the expected revenues during the period under review.

He highlighted measures adopted by the agency to improve its operations such as the strengthening of concession management capacity.