Why Nigerians are worried about sale of national assets —Ubani

Lack of transparency in the sale of some major national assets in the past is responsible for the mixed public feelings trailing a similar move by the Federal authorities, a former NBA chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Monday Ubani, has said.

He told Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday that majority of Nigerians were against the sale of those assets because “one, previous sales were not transparent and helpful; the properties were sold to themselves (those in authority and their cronies), and three, the sale proceeds were not properly accounted for.”

He said though it was imperative to source for fund to finance the federal budget for this year, there was a need for diligence and caution to avoid certain pitfalls capable of further compounding the nation’s challenges.

“The real issue that there is no money to finance this year’s budget and borrowings has burdens. Already, we are over-borrowed, the option left now is to look towards our assets for disposal.

Noting that most suggestions coming from certain quarters over the issue were based on sentiments and not on facts, Ubani warned against selling what he described viable assets of the country.

“Assets can be sold but not our viable assets, we can concession some of our assets. Others, we can commercialise or privatise, while others can be sold out rightly to put our economy back to life.”