CAPTION: Commissioner for commerce, Emmanuel Brass Yaji, MD NIPDC, Daniel Agzegana and one of the investors.

By Godwin Ojoshimite

The Nasarawa state government has announced the privatisation of two companies – the Nasara Fertilizer Blending Company, Lafia and the Nasara Sacks & Packaging Company, Akwanga.

The handover of the firms to the new owners was done by the Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Company, NIPDC, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday.

Commissioner for commerce and industry, Emmanuel Brass Yaji, said during the ceremony in Lafia, that the privatisation was to create employment for the teaming youths of the state, as well as boost its internally generated revenue.

He therefore charged the investors, Agtho Merchant and Company Limited, Abuja, and the Young Plastic Enterprises Limited, Kano, to be proactive and transparent in their dealings and keep to their part of the agreement.

In his response, the general manager of the Young Plastic Enterprise Limited, Kano, Saidu Tillam, said his company hopes to commence work immediately, in order to meet up with its own part of the deal.

Earlier, the managing director of NIPDC, Daniel Agzegana, said out of the three companies mapped out for leasing by the state government, itdecided to lease two companies as a pilot scheme, adding that the remaining company will be leased after the first quarter of 2014.