The Nigerian Government has described as speculation, news making the round that it has decided to put up national assets for sale in order to get the funds needed to bring the country out of recession.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed made this clarification while briefing statehouse correspondents after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting, which had as its main focus, the approval of policies meant to streamline the water sector in the country.
The notion of selling National Assets as a way of reflating the economy and getting the country out of recession, has caused a buzz round the country since it was first suggested by business mogul Aliko Dangote and supported by the National Economic Council.
Many other groups and eminent personalities have lined up on either side of the argument and the Federal Government’s studied silence on the issue had been read to mean it was poised to carry out the sales.
But after being tasked by statehouse correspondents after the FEC this week, the FG’s spokesman Mohammed, insisted that the Executive was still considering all the options and had not yet made up its mind on what step to take.
Mohammed pointed out that the fact that the National Economic Council had approved the sale of the national assets did not mean that the Federal Cabinet had made a decision.