Joseph Inokotong, Abuja
The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) has said contrary to speculations, the Federal Government has no intention to sell the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (LITFC) .
BPE said the LITFC would be concessioned; through a competitive transaction process.
The BPE’s reaction came after closure of the LITFC by the Traders’ Associations operating in the Complex and protest by the said association; over its purported sale.
In a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, Head, Public Communications, BPE, Amina Tukur Othman, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Bureau states that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the BPE, does not intend to sell the Complex, rather, the facility would be concessioned through a competitive transaction process.
“It is for this reason that government has procured the services of Messrs Feedback Infrastructure Services, to advise on the way forward for the proposed concession.
“It is apt to inform the public that the Bureau, on Friday, March 1, 2019, met with the entire traders’ associations; to explain the essence of the planned concession.”
The Bureau had, on August 23, 2017, placed a Caveat Emptor advertisements in some national newspapers wherein, it stated that the lease agreement that was hitherto executed by the federal government, in favour of Aulic Nigeria Limited, had been validly terminated and possession reverted to the federal government, with effect from August 23, 2017.
“The public were warned that any purported allotment, buying, selling, letting, leasing, charging, and subdivision, construction upon or dealings in connection with the said property and parcels of land, in any other manner, howsoever, without the written permission of the federal government, represented by the BPE, is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent and amounts to trespass.”
The BPE further warned that any person(s) interfering with the said parcels of land “stands to lose their money as the federal government, through the BPE, will neither honour agreements, contracts or arrangements entered into with person(s) purporting to have authority to transact the property and or parcels of land whether in the manner described or in any other manner whatsoever nor will it re-imburse any monies paid in respect of such transaction.”
The Bureau reiterated that it is willing to collaborate with all stakeholders, to ensure smooth and successful completion of the transaction; and appealed for their cooperation.