Sale of NLNG, others: FG urged to seek alternative solutions

President Muhammadu Buhari

A lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Lawrence Aderotimi has urged the Federal Government to seek an alternative solution to the current recession rather than focusing on the sale of Nigeria’s assets.

Aderotimi made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja on the current economic situation of the country.

According to him, “the act is unprofessional if the Federal Government will descend so low to sell the jewel of the strongest nation in the Africa continent.”

Aderotimi said that the government could take the option of borrowing from the international organisations rather than selling the assets of Nigerians and those yet unborn.

He said that selling these assets would be termed “barbaric, unprofessional and evil’’.

“Government at this critical state of recession should look beyond selling off the assets of the nation. The government can look for other alternative solutions.

“It will not be wise to start selling our assets considering what happened after the sale of NITEL, NEPA and some other businesses.

“These assets have created and generated revenue for the sustainability of the economy for a long time and selling theme will not be a good idea.

“Therefore, Nigeria’s assets like NLNG and others should not be sold just because the country wants to meet her short-term financial obligation.

Aderotimi explained that the Federal Government should think of the adverse effect of the sale of these assets on the generality of Nigerians.

He said that it would lead to unemployment and poverty, considering the fact those employees in these organisations would be laid off.

According to him, over the years, privatisation of business enterprises has failed as the act usually brings about the enslavement of Nigerians.

The political scientist was of the opinion that the Federal Government should use the monies recovered from looters and from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System to fund the economy.

He, however, advised that rather than selling off these assets, the government and the wealthy class should come together to find ways to deliver the country from the present state of recession.

“This is a call that Nigerians should stand by, we must see to it that Nigeria is not mortgaged so that the unborn generation will enjoy the wealth of this nation,’’ he said.

NAN recalls a statement recently credited to Mr Aliko Dangote, a business mogul on the sale of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and other government assets has been generating controversy.