- ...As FG concedes park to Turks
By Josephine Ella
Arrangements have been concluded by the Federal Government through the Federal Capital Territory Administration to privatize the Jabi Motor Park to a Turkish consortium to the tune of $100 million.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting yesterday, the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide said that the move was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to bring foreign investors into the country.
She said that the administration was not interested in taking over the motor park from Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), but government interest is to have a befitting motor park of global standard in the territory.
“First of all I want to make some clarification; Nigeria has been looking for foreign investment. Turkey is one of the countries that was targeted and the Turkish business delegation in this particular consortium is interested in Jabi Motor Park,” she said.
In a swift reacting to the development, the Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Micah Jiba said he was surprised to receive a letter from the office of the minister of state directing the council to handover the motor park to the Area Council Service Secretariat.
He said that the council had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with an indigenous firm for the upgrading of the motor park to a global standard.
According to him, the design is similar to the one Turkish consortium has presented to the minister.
However, the minister, who was particularly upset that the chairman did not inform her office or the stakeholders about this, described the MoU as useless.
“For you to tell me you’ve given out Utako Motor Park to somebody who will do exactly what this people say they will do, and Infrastructure Concession Regulation Council( ICRC) is not involved which is a legal requirement for PPP, there is no bank guarantee and there is no evidence of money.
“We don’t even know who this people are, this is the FCT administration sitting in front of you, and you are telling us you have a partner that can bring the same thing that a minister and senator and House of reps members are proposing $100m project and you insist that you already have it and nobody know except you in that your little small office. I am sorry, I do not believe you. It is insulting, and it is unfair,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a presentation of the project to stakeholders, the leader of the delegation and head of the Interstate Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman revealed that the project will cost well over 100 million US dollars, saying that the design work has been completed.
He disclosed that the proposed interstate travel center when completed will comprise a three star hotel, administrative office, fire service unit, maintenance unit among others.
But, AMAC has vowed to oppose any attempt by the administration to take over the motor park from the council.
The council insisted that it is the constitutional responsibility of the various councils to manage markets and motor parks in their area of jurisdiction.
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