RMAFC warns Nigerian govt against outright sale of national assets

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has warned Nigeria’s government against the outright sale of critical national assets as contained in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The commission noted that the persistent clamour for the sale of the federation’s oil and gas assets has continued in spite of its earlier advice against such.

It was proposed in the ERGP that the government should reduce its equity in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and its joint venture oil and gas assets.

In a statement signed by Ibrahim Mohammed, the head of public relations, RMAFC, on Wednesday, the commission advised against the sale of NLNG on the basis that it has been managed efficiently, profitably and is paying dividend to its investors, including Nigeria.

“For instance, in July 2015, about N412.6 billion was paid as a dividend to the Federation while in December 2015, $400 million was also paid. Consequently, the Federation would continue to benefit from the annual dividend as well as from the capital appreciation in value of this asset over time as the persons supporting its sale and those clamoring to buy are aware of the benefits they would make from such transactions,” the Mohammed said.

The Commission advised the government to consider borrowing the equivalent sales value of the assets, as an alternative to the sale of the national assets, since the loan could be repaid from the dividends that would have been lost if the assets had been sold.

“After the repayment, the country will benefit from the investment of the loans that were borrowed while the dividends from the assets will thereafter return and be paid into the Federation Account; converting the existing Joint Ventures to Incorporated Joint Venture Companies (IJVs) as is the case with NLNG without diluting the Federation’s equity holdings in the IJV.

“This will provide incentives to encourage local and foreign investors interested in these assets to consider investing in the construction of new gas to liquids, petrochemicals, fertilizer and liquefied natural gas plants and awarding new marginal fields and oil blocks to prospective investors as the Nigerian Federation stands to derive maximum returns from its investment in the oil and gas assets.

“In the long run, these industries will create huge business activities within the oil and gas value chain and in so doing, create the much-needed employment opportunities and business linkages for Nigerian businesses. The expanded economic activities will no doubt improve government revenues,” the statement asserted.