The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Esso Properties Limited, Dr. Smith Sosochukwuma Ezenagu, is a real estate developer who understands the nitty-gritty of the industry. In this interview with OKWY IROEGBU CHIKEZIE, he speaks on germane issues in sector and other sundry issues in the economy. Excerpts:
The Federal Government is planning to sell her building assets and others projected to be over 2,000 across the nation to fund 2023 budget. What is your take on this?
It is a welcomed development bearing in mind its economic sense and the plan is commendable given that the benefits are much more in terms of grading especially the government’s plan to check budget deficit. The sale of these properties which are mostly neglected and abandoned is in itself an economic recovery drive. Keeping the assets is equivalent to the nation short-changing itself and adding to the cost of governance resulting in economic wastes. Maintaining these properties over the years without putting them into good use can be described as wasteful. Why keep properties or assets that have been derelict and not put into good use than disposing them and ensuring that they are put in the hands of the private sector who will put them into good use.
Unfortunately Nigerians are employed in some of these businesses across the nation which adds to the cost of governance given that many people are employed across these properties. Personally, l believe that government have no business in business, government should be preoccupied with policies and also providing an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. If government can put the plan into action and ensure its fruition, Nigeria will be better for it as it will go a long way to reproduce multiple times other streams of wealth for the nation.
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