Privatisation: BPE Assures Nigerdock Plc Of Support

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has pledged support for Nigerdock Nigeria Plc towards the full realization of its potentials as an integrated engineering and fabrication company.

Director General of the Bureau, Mr. Alex A. Okoh stated that the required framework will be put in place to ensure the company is patronized locally given its capability to fully deliver on existing mandate.

According to Okoh, the BPE will closely look “at all the issues militating against the smooth operation of Nigerdock”, adding that “Patronage should not be denied the company because it has the capability to deliver. We should do everything possible to ensure that the company assumes its pride of place.”

The BPE boss gave this assurance to the company’s Board and management while receiving a report of the Bureau/Nigerdock Joint Committee on the resolution of outstanding issues in the firm on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 in Abuja.

He said BPE is concerned about Nigerdock’s present comatose state hence its decision to establish the joint committee mandated to investigate issues militating against the firm’s operations.

The Director General said it was lamentable that the company, with the capacity to employ about 6,000 Nigerians off the labour market and boost the Nigerian local content policy had only about 500 employees thus; negating the core essence of privatization.

Mr Okoh explained that the report would be carefully studied and its recommendations escalated to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.

In his remarks, a director of the company, General IBM Haruna (rtd) pledged the Board’s inclination to collaborate with BPE in ensuring that the company survives and realizes its potentials.

He said besides its core functions, the company is quite capable of conducting research for the Navy and Army if fully supported by the government.

General IBM Haruna expressed the hope that synergy between the company and BPE will ensure the set goals and objectives are achievable and solicited openness, integrity and transparency in the line of duty.

A statement by BPE’s Head, Public Communications, Chukwuma Nwokoh said the General Counsel of Nigerdock, Mr Adewale Dosunmu presented report which are in two parts.

The statement said the report has proffered short-term and long term solutions aimed at moving the company forward.