Northern group rejects sale of Ihovba, Calabar, Geregu power plants

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has kicked against the planned sale of Ihovba, Calabar, Geregu, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho power plants, by the National Council on Privatisation and Bureau of Public Enterprise (NIPPs) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC).

CNG alleged that the move to sell the plants was an attempt to shortchange and diminish the economic viability of the region.

Director, Strategic Communication of CNG, Samaila Musa, in a statement, claimed that the National Assembly had in 2021, made a pronunciation against the purported sale of the assets.

Musa charged Northern governors to prevent NIPPs and NDPHC from depriving the region of having a share of the equity.

He stated that the pan-Arewa group would go to any length to challenge what he called “cruel, unfriendly, greatly biased and irresponsible policy.”

He said: “The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) is alarmed by the insistence of the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on pushing the plan by the National Council on Privatisation and Bureau of Public Enterprise to sell the Ihovba, Calabar, Geregu, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho power plants.

“The CNG insists that the power plants’ equity through NIPPs are owned by states and LGAs alongside the federal government which was designed and implemented in the South and eventually to be replicated in the North.

“We reject in its totality any such plan to dispose of the plants without replicating same in the North as per the initial agreement.

“We demand the Northern versions of plants to be immediately established as agreed in 2004 when NIPPs was established.

“We demand northern federal lawmakers stand firmly against this attempt at mortgaging the future of the North.

“Northern governors must demand that their states’ equity would not be plundered.

“We condemn with all our might, this blatant illegality, unconstitutionality and abuse of office by the supposedly learned professional such as the vice president.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the CNG is prepared to go to any length to challenge this cruel, unfriendly, greatly biased and irresponsible policy.”