Supporters of national assets sale are economic predators —Sani

Senator Shehu Sani

The senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has described those calling for the sale of national assets as economic predators.

Senate President Bukola Saraki had on Tuesday recommended the sale of some national assets and the utilisation of the proceeds for the development of infrastructure.

Saraki had said, “The executive must raise capital from asset sales and other sources to shore up foreign reserves. This will calm investors, discourage currency speculation and stabilise the economy.

“The measures should include part sale of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Holdings; reduction of government’s shares in upstream oil joint venture operation, government stake in financial institutions…”

The National Economic Council, comprising of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the 36 state governors, said on Friday that the Federal Government had endorsed plans to sell some national assets as part of efforts to address the current economic recession in the country.

But Sani, in a Facebook post on Friday, tagged those backing the call for the sale of the country’s assets as “economic predators.”

He said, “The call for the sale of our national assets and investments is condemnable. The proponents (of the call) are economic predators and parasites who want to profit from the recession. Nigerians must resist and rise up against this heist and roguery.

“They don’t want to buy the Ajaokuta Steel Company because it is not profitable; they don’t want to invest in solid minerals, agriculture or science and technology, they don’t want to invest in the exploration of oil in the Chad basin or Benue trough. They want to buy NLNG and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Many but not all Nigeria’s captains of industry are fronts for captains of politics.”