The 36 state governors in Nigeria under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum have set aside their political differences and unanimously rejected the sale of some power plants in the country as they have gone to court to stop the privatization of 10 power plants by the federal government.
In a statement, the NGF revealed that its lawyers have moved to prevent President Muhamadu Buhari-led Federal Government from selling those power plants which are under the National Integrated Power Projects.
It is important to note that the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, which is owned by the federal, state, and local government councils, is a power generation and distribution company that oversees the implementation of the NIPPs.
The NGF, in their statement through their chairman, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, said “The Forum, following its advocacy that the proposed privatisation of 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) should be stopped, instructed its lawyers to approach the Federal High Court which, at present has issued a court order restraining all the parties in the suit from taking any step or action that will make or render the outcome of the motion on notice seeking for interlocutory injunction nugatory.
“The effect of the order of the court is that respondents cannot proceed with the proposed sale of the power plants belonging to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHCL) until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
It could be recalled that in April 2021, the National Council on Privatisation approved the adoption of a fast-track strategy for the privatisation of 5 power plants listed as Geregu, Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Calabar and Benin-Ihovbor.
The Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoh, announced in Abuja at the Investor Pre-bid Conference for the privatisation of the five plants and gave the names of 16 pre-qualified bidding firms.
Although the NIPPs in contention were not listed by the governors, the 10 power plants currently undergoing the privatization processes include; Benin Generation Company Limited, Calabar Generation Company Limited, Egbema Generation Company Limited, Gbarain Generation Company Limited and Geregu Generation Company Limited.
Others include; Ogorode Generation Company Limited, Olorunsogo Generation Company Limited, Omoku Generation Company Limited, Omotosho Generation Company Limited and Alaoji Generation Company Limited.
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