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Tag: Amaechi

  • Amaechi meets Ambode in closed-door meeting

    Amaechi meets Ambode in closed-door meeting

    Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday met with Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode behind closed-doors at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.

    But the minister declined to address reporters on the purpose of the visit.

    Amaechi, who arrived the Lagos House at 10:55 a.m, drove himself in a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    He was accompanied by a four-vehicle convoy.

    The meeting, which was scheduled to be open for coverage, was later announced by one of the governor’s aide to have become be a private after, after which the minister would address reporters.

    The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour.

    But reporters covering the Governor’s Office waited at the entrance to the venue for over three hours, hoping to ask the minister some questions.

    They were disappointed as Amaechi refused to speak with them.

    Before the minister stepped out, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Habib Aruna, had announced that there would be no room for questions and answers.

    Amaechi, who came out in company of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello and some of his aides, declined to speak on the purpose of the meeting.

    “I don’t want to be misquoted again,” he said and moved into his car.

  • Amaechi meets Ambode in Alausa

    Amaechi meets Ambode in Alausa

    The Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday met with the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, behind closed doors at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The minister, however, declined to brief journalists on the purpose of the visit.

     Amaechi, who arrived at the Lagos House at 10:55 a.m. drove himself in a black SUV and was accompanied by a four- vehicle convoy.

    The closed door meeting lasted about an hour.

     But journalists in the Governor’s Office who had waited at the entrance of the meeting venue for over three hours, hoping to ask the minister some questions left the place disappointed.

     Shortly before Amaechi stepped out, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna, had announced that there would be no room for question and answer session.

     Amaechi, who came out thereafter in company of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and some of his aides, declined efforts by the journalists to speak on the purpose of the meeting.

     “I don’t want to be misquoted again,” Amaechi simply said and made his way into his car.

     

     

  • Amaechi: we should stop criticising Jonathan’s govt

    Amaechi: we should stop criticising Jonathan’s govt

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has agreed with those saying the present administration should focus on achieving its campaign promises and stop criticising former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The minister spoke in Abuja when he received the report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the finalisation of the Draft National Transport Policy (NTP).

    The I9-member committee was drawn from all the transport sectors and agencies.

    Amaechi said there was need to invest more in the technological aspect of transportation.

    His words: “I agree with those who said we should stop criticising the last government and do our own. We need to leverage on what we know. People are shouting intermodal transport. I went to the new airport in Singapore and I didn’t find one person at the airport. As you walk in, technology takes over.

    “They also said in the next few years, they would introduce driverless cars. We should also think outside the box about on how to improve our transport sector and think less about how the sun and moon affects the sector or building more bus stops.

    “We should see how much investment we can put into ICT. Intelligence transportation should not be ignored.

    “What assure Nigerians is that under the Buhari administration, we would do everything possible to ensure that we maximise the resources which accrues to each ministry.

    “I also assure you that we would take the next step you want us to take. Usually, people take experts contribution for granted, but the fact is experts know better and if we don’t come to you, who would we go to?

    “We will go through it and I will direct the Permanent Secretary to give a copy to the Minister of State for Aviation while I read a copy. Once we are through, and we share our views, we will take it to the cabinet for approval”.

    Committee chair of the Mfon Usoro explained that the adoption of the policy would make the economy stronger.

    “Adoption and implementation of the NTP by all tiers of government will lead to a stronger economy and a profitable future for the transportation service sector, and for the many sectors that rely on transportation in a diversified economy,” she said.

  • Wike, Amaechi’s battle shifts to N’Assembly

    Wike, Amaechi’s battle shifts to N’Assembly

    The running battle between Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has shifted to the National Assembly.

    It was exclusively gathered in Port Harcourt yesterday that the 10 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House of Representatives from Rivers State were plotting against the operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in the state, particularly the Commander, Akin Fakorede, regarded by Wike and his supporters as Amaechi’s ally.

    In the latest phase of the unending supremacy battle, the PDP federal lawmakers, led by Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Wike and representative of Obio/Akpor Constituency in the House of Representatives, have sponsored a motion that culminated in a letter written by the House to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, alleging various acts of misdemeanour against Fakorede and his men.

    Only recently, the authorities of Obio/Akpor Local Government in the state issued an eviction letter to F-SARS in the state, asking Fakorede and his men to vacate the facility that housed their offices; a move believed to have had the guiding hand of the governor who sees Fakorede as an ally of Amaechi and other APC chieftains in the state.

    Fakorede was said to have responded by saying that he and his men would not vacate the facility in question because it was purposely built to house their offices.

    The F-SARS boss is believed to have ruffled many feathers in the state’s PDP for disarming many of the party’s thugs and making life uncomfortable for them.

    The House of Representatives’ letter with reference number NASS/CNA/105/Vol. 23/123, addressed to the IGP and signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Olayide Adelami, and obtained by our correspondent in Port Harcourt, was titled “Need to Investigate Acts of Harassment, Torture, Extra-Judicial Killings and other Unwholesome Practices of the F-SARS in Rivers State (HR.98/2017.”

    Adelami’s letter to Idris reads: “The purpose of this letter is to convey the resolution of the House to you for further necessary action. The House of Representatives deliberated on the above subject matter and consequently resolved to condemn in very strong terms, the acts of harassment, torture, extra-judicial killings and other unwholesome practices by operatives of F-SARS in Rivers State and indeed other parts of the country.”

    It added: “Victims of F-SARS operations in Rivers State alleged that F-SARS operatives are usually armed with guns, axes, machetes and other dangerous weapons and employ various malevolent methods, including planting illicit drugs and other incriminating items and objects on unsuspecting victims and also go about with Point Of Sale (POS) machines, with which they coerce unsuspecting victims to make money transfers in their favour.

    “Aware that there are also several reported cases of harassment, torture, extra-judicial killings and other unwholesome practices by operatives of F-SARS in Port Harcourt and its environs, some rescued victims of kidnapping have consistently pointed at F-SARS operatives as being responsible for most of the kidnappings in Rivers State, particularly along the East-West Road and Owerri-Port Harcourt Expressway.

    “Worried that a security outfit as F-SARS is being turned into a violent terror contraption, whose victims are usually left entirely at the ‘mercy’ of the F-SARS officers, until they are able to ‘bail’ themselves, while others are instantly shot dead, as seen in the Rumuakunde, Emohua incident.”

    The federal lawmakers also alleged that the IGP had consistently failed, refused and/or neglected to investigate the “grave indictments” of the F-SARS, claiming that the negative testimonies continued unabated.

    They noted that the acts, if not immediately checked, could lead to anarchy and in turn negatively affect society and cause despondency in the minds of people and residents of Rivers State and the teeming Nigerian masses.

    The Reps alleged that the acts of the operatives of F-SARS had negatively affected and reduced the image and reputation of the Nigeria Police Force before the rest of the world.

    Contacted for his reaction, Fakorede, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), declined comment, saying that at the appropriate time, his detailed response would be made available to the members of the House of Representatives.

    Last Saturday, Wike and Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, alleged assassination attempts against each other following a bloody clash involving policemen attached to them at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt.

    The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, had described the clash as a “minor traffic infraction,” stressing that the meeting of the two eminent personalities’ convoys was coincidental, adding that there was no attempt to assassinate either of the two Ikwerre sons.

    Chairman of the PDP in Rivers, Chief Felix Obuah, alleged that Fakorede led operatives of F-SARS to the scene to assassinate Wike, but the Rivers Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Davies Ikanya, said the allegation was not only misguided but callous, malicious and vindictive.

  • Police probe Wike, Amaechi bloody clash  

    Police probe Wike, Amaechi bloody clash  

    Police Chief Ibrahim Idris has ordered a probe into the  Saturday clash between security detail of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and those of Minister of Transportation Chibuile Amaechi in Port Harcourt.

    Although nobody died during the clash, many were injured and the rifle of a policeman was snatched at the Trans-Amadi Layout.

    Both Wike and Amaechi, who are former allies, claim thay escaped assassination.

    Rivers Police Command spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed that a probe had been launched into the incident and the involvement of policemen.  He did not give details.

    The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Wike’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and other security personnel who were involved in the bloody clash.

    In a statement by its Chairman Chief Davies Ikanya, made available by his media adviser Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the APC said: “Reports made available to us by Prince Tonye Princewill, an associate to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was in the same car with the Minister of Transportation, indicated that Wike’s dispatch rider pulled a pistol to assassinate Amaechi, but missed his target, after which Amaechi’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Mr. Seimeikumo Debewari, intervened to save the minister from further assassination attempt.

    “Prince Princewill stated that he was at a loss if the attack was not an assassination attempt on the Transportation Minister, somebody should explain to him in a clearer sentence why Wike’s despatch rider failed to stop the two security vehicles of the minister, which had already crossed, but decided for whatever reasons, to block the vehicle in which the minister was driving.

    “Prince Princewill also asked why the attempt by Amaechi, who was driving the car, to navigate his vehicle out of danger was prevented by two security men from Rivers governor’s convoy, who pulled their pistols to shoot him, but when Wike’s security men realised that the vehicle that the minister was driving was bullet-proofed, they resorted to hitting the jeep with the butts of their guns and in the process broke the right driving mirror and attempted to break Amaechi’s windscreen.

    “After the failed attempt to kill the Transportation Minister, his escort team was physically assaulted by Wike’s CSO and Rivers governor, with the operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) on the minister’s convoy dislodged and forcibly dispossessed of one of their AK-47 rifles.”

    Rivers APC also stated that the dangerous trend, if not nipped in the bud, might jeopardise the peace pervading the Niger Delta.

    It reiterated that Wike’s main desire was to truncate Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy, after the failed plot by the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win the 2015 presidential election, stressing that the Rivers governor’s disdain for President Muhammadu Buhari, APC and Amaechi was legendary.

    The opposition party said: “Wike recently exhibited hatred for Buhari’s administration during his misguided lecture at Chatham House, London, where he disparaged the Federal Government, demarketed and rubbished all the efforts of the APC-led Federal Government to right most of the wrongs of the past PDP government in a foreign land.

    “Wike should not be allowed to turn Rivers State into a theatre of unwarranted war, only obtainable during the Sir Celestine Omehia’s era, when Port Harcourt was rated as the riskiest place in the world.”

    Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah described as wishful thinking, the call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Governor Wike’s Chief Security Officer (CSO). Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and other security personnel.

    Okah, said: “The call for the arrest and prosecution of Wike’s CSO lacks merit, it is mere wishful thinking and it should be disregarded.

    “If APC chairman is calling for arrest and prosecution of Wike’s CSO, what do we do to the policemen that attacked the Rivers governor’s escort rider? Do we also call for their arrest and prosecution?”

    Okah also stated that there should be no double standard in order to ensure justice.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected Chinese ‘kidnapper’

  • Wike, Amaechi convoy clash in Port Harcourt

    Wike, Amaechi convoy clash in Port Harcourt

    •I escaped assassination – Wike

    •Governor’s security pulled guns on me – Amaechi

    IT was a horrifying scene yesterday afternoon in Port Harcourt, as policemen attached to Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, clashed.

    Amaechi’s escort details were, however, unlucky during the 3p.m. attack, as one of them, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was battered, with blood on his face, while the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji was snatched, while being forcibly disarmed, with the rifle taken away by the Rivers governor’s convoy.

    Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in his reaction, however, claimed that personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and soldiers attached to the minister of transportation attacked his convoy, while allegedly attempting to assassinate him.

    But Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Media Office in a statement yesterday said, “In a blatant show of naked raw power, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi this (yesterday) afternoon narrowly escaped being shot by security men attached to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.  His car wasn’t that lucky though. The car was vandalized with a broken side mirror.”

    Report of the sad incident was immediately lodged at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Zaki Ahmed, while Ubaji’s rifle had not been recovered, with Ewelu and other injured policemen still receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, as at press time.

    It was exclusively gathered yesterday evening in Port Harcourt through a top security source, who would not want to be named, that the unfortunate incident heightened tension in the area, with passersby, motorists, other road users and persons in the neighbourhood scampering to safety, to avoid being hit by stray bullets in the confusion.

    The security source said: “Today, November 11, 2017 (yesterday) at 3 p.m., the Transportation Minister, who was driving from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in company with police escorts, got his convoy intercepted by the Rivers governor (Wike) at Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout by Nkpogu in Port Harcourt. The security details managed to ferry  Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to safety, after which the Rivers governor led his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and about ten mobile policemen, to attack his predecessor/benefactor’s convoy.

    “The Rivers governor and his troops physically assaulted by slapping and bruising the policemen, especially Inspector Johnson Imonikhe, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu and Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, attached to the transportation minister and the governor made away with the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, one of the policemen attached to the transportation minister.

    “The AK-47 rifle was forcibly taken away personally by Governor Wike, who was accompanied by his CSO. The policeman with blood on his face, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was hit with an iron by Wosu (Wike’s CSO), in the presence of the Rivers State governor.

    “The snatched AK-47 rifle is still in the custody of the Rivers governor’s team and the incident has been referred to State CID (SCID) for investigation.”

    When contacted for his reaction through the telephone yesterday evening, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that he would find out the details, asking our reporter to call back in ten minutes, but when contacted twice, after thirty minutes, he did not picked the calls, and he had not returned the call, as at press time.

    Nwakaudu in a statement said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.

    “The governor, who was on project inspection, was attacked at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road. The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car. Mr Debewari, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the minister of transportation, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.

    “Also part of the attack was the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede (a Chief Superintendent of Police), who received the minister of transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied him on his trip.”

    He added that after the attack the governor continued with his inspection of projects, adding that Wike was not harmed.

    The minister’s media office said the incident which occurred along Trans-Amadi Road, Nwaja axis involved cars of many of Amaechi’s  supporters while the Minister’s black jeep was intercepted and blocked at the junction by the security motorcycle outrider attached to Wike after two cars had passed through.

    The statement added, “One of the two cars had security men assigned to protect the minister in Port Harcourt.  Suddenly, gun-toting security men attached to Wike’s convoy surrounded the Minister’s car, threatening to shoot him. They hit the car, tried to smash the windscreens, back and side windows and broke a side mirror. All through this attack, Amaechi remained calm, inside the fortified Jeep.  While the attack occurred, Wike remained inside his vehicle.”

    It added that the minister eventually passed through after the intervention of the security team on ground to protect him in Port Harcourt. It continued, “However, when Governor Wike got to the point where the incident occurred after Amaechi’s vehicle had gone by, his security men blocked the road again, dragged out from a vehicle and thoroughly beat up a police man attached to protect Amaechi in Port Harcourt.  The Policeman’s riffle was also taken from him.”

    The Amaechi media office added that Wike came out of his car, and with his security team went from one vehicle to another of Amaechi’s supporters charging at them, harassing and abusing them. It alleged that Wike’s security men were heard loudly insulting Amaechi and calling him derogative names.

    In the meantime, Ikwerre youths have condemned what they called the attack on Amaechi and the policemen in his convoy.

    The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International from the four Rivers Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua, described the attack as very unfortunate and least expected.

    Amaechi and Wike are both Ikwerre. The transportation minister hails from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, while the Rivers governor is an indigene of Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor council.

    IYM, through its President-General, Azubuike Nwanjoku, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Ikwerre constituency, in an online statement by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dike Bekwele, declared that Wike’s action was suicidal and detrimental to the already-charged environment being witnessed in the state and insecurity in Rivers in recent times.

     

  • Amaechi, Wike convoys in bloody clash

    Amaechi, Wike convoys in bloody clash

    A bloody clash was on Saturday recorded in Port Harcourt, Rivers State between the security convoys of Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Security officials of Governor Wike allegedly attacked  the convoy of the Transportation Minister.

    Amaechi’s escort details were, however, unlucky during the 3 p.m. attack, as one of them, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was battered, with blood on his face, while the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji was snatched, while being forcibly disarmed.

    Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in his reaction, however, claimed that personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and soldiers attached to the minister of transportation attacked his convoy, while allegedly attempting to assassinate him.

    Report of the sad incident was immediately lodged at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Zaki Ahmed, while Ubaji’s rifle had not been recovered, with Ewelu and other injured policemen still receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, as at press time.

    When contacted for his reaction through the telephone yesterday evening, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that he would find out the details.

    He asked our reporter to call back in ten minutes, but when contacted twice, after thirty minutes, he did not take the calls, and he had not called back, as at press time.

    Nwakaudu said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.

    “The governor, who was on project inspection, was attacked at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road. The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car. Mr Debewari, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the minister of transportation, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.

    “Also part of the attack was the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede (a Chief Superintendent of Police), who received  the minister of transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied on his trip.

    “After the attack, the Rivers State governor continued with his  inspection of projects. Governor Wike was not harmed, despite  the attack. The minister of transportation had over 50 personnel of F-SARS, soldiers and mobile policemen in his motorcade.”

    The reaction of Amaechi’s Spokesman, David Iyofor, was still being expected as at press time.

  • Amaechi urged to promote ship repair facility

    Amaechi urged to promote ship repair facility

    Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi has been urged to promote the establishment of  indigenous ship repair and dry docking facility. This will enable the country to reap the benefits of the Blue economy and generate employment for the youth.

    Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) President  Olayiwola Shittu, who made the call, said it was regrettable that Nigeria has no functional ship repair and dry docking firms.

    He praised the government for appointing an Israeli firm to police the nation’s maritime domain and the subsequent agreement to train the Navy and other  security agencies to take over the job after the expiration of the contract.

    Amaechi, Shittu said, deserves stakeholders’ support and encouragement  for the positive steps taken to promote the maritime sector.

    Shittu told The Nation that Nigeria the ships coming to Africa, adding that no fewer than 5,000 vessels called at the nation’s seaports last year. He said with modern repair facilities, the sector could rake in billions of naira and create jobs.

    Most of the vessels operating in Nigeria’s territorial waters, he said, go to the neighbouring countries for dry docking and other routine maintenance, which he said, is at a huge loss to the country.

    He bemoaned the rate of pollution of the nation’s territorial waters and urged the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), to address the issue of illegal fishing and dumping of hazardous wastes in the waters.

    The ANLCA helmsman said the dumping of toxic wastes in the maritime domain and the perpetuation of crimes on the coastline require the collaboration and commitment of the Federal Government and NIMASA, with foreign partners to build a safe maritime sector.

    Shittu noted that security experts around Africa have developed theories to check the increasing dumping of hazardous wastes and the menacing piracy, adding that Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand have set the stage for cooperation between states, both in information exchange and mobilisation of resources.

    He observed that the insecurity on Africa’s waterways forced insurers to hike rates for ships passing through the region.

    “This significant maritime presence requires that ship repairs with dry docks of varying capacities be established to cope with the maintenance requirement of these vessels. Classification society rules and the good maintenance of ships require that ships be dry docked every 30 months on the average for routine surveys.

    “Special surveys are required at every alternative docking that is once in three years. As the age of a vessel increases, so does the amount of repair work needed. Aside from routine docking, vessels need to come to propeller and ship hull, or damaged caused by ropes or debris, and mechanical breakdown.

    “Sadly, the ship repairs industry in Nigeria is under-developed and its potential untapped. This is largely because the government has not paid meaningful attention to this sector of the economy.

    “As a result of the shortage of adequate ship repair facilities, most of the vessels operating in Nigeria waters proceed to neighbouring countries for scheduled dry docking and other routine maintenance works. This is at huge financial loss to the country, while at the same time denying employment opportunities for Nigerians,’’ he said.

    Shittu said he supported the move by the Minister to establish a new national shipping line. He, however, said there was need for the government to support the private sector by providing the enabling environment.

     

  • FG needs $36bn to fix rail lines in Nigeria- Amaechi

    FG needs $36bn to fix rail lines in Nigeria- Amaechi

    As Senate drills Adeosun, Amaechi over $5.5 billion loan request

    The Federal Government yesterday said that the sum of $36 billion is required to complete its rail projects in parts of the country.

    The Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to defend the $5.5 billion loan request of President Muhammadu Buhari.

     Apart from Amaechi, Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Serika, were also questioned over the desirability of the controversial loan.

    Amaechi who listed various rail projects in parts of the country including Lagos to Kano, Costal rail line, Kano to Kaduna, Lagos to Calabar, Port Harcourt to Warri, Onitsha, Aba, noted that if the total cost is summed up, would amount to about $36 billion.

    Amaechi said, “If you put it all together, the total cost of the entire rail projects will amount to about $36billion. Actually we don’t have the money. But it’s an ambitious plan. We really have to start something somewhere and see how far we go”

     He added, “On the issue of borrowing, I have not seen any country in the world where real construction is done by Public Private Partnership (PPP).

    “The reason is that it has long term benefit. It completely takes away freight activities and put them on the track and reduce the impact on the road.

    “We have something that is going to happen between now and December. We have almost concluded arrangements with General Electric to take over the narrow gauge.

    “And after the assessment by GE, the narrow gauge cannot take up to 17 locomotives. Before December, they will bring in between four and six locomotives with 100 wagons. We are also making arrangements to bring in coaches so that we can convey passengers from Lagos to Kano so that our economic activities will improve.”

    The minister said that President Buhari had directed that the rail line projects be extended to cover all 36 State Capitals.

    He told the committee that part of the $5.5 billion loan would be used to fund the Itakpe to Warri, Kano to Kadun and Port Harcourt to Calabar portion of the rail projects.

    President Buhari had said in a letter to the National Assembly asking for the approval for the $5.5 billion loan that $2.5 billion was being borrowed to fund the Mambilla Hydropower Project, Construction of a Second Runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport, counterpart funding for Rail Projects and the Construction of the Bode-Bonny Road, with a Bridge across the Opobo Channel”

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani raised issues which he wanted the government functionaries to address to enable his committee advise the Senate properly.

    Sani said, “Some of the questions Nigerians and indeed our constituents have asked repeatedly include: What has the Federal Government done with the reported recovered loot allegedly traced to the previous administration? What role can such recovered monies play in the 2017 budget financing? How much indeed has been recovered? Has the National Assembly appropriated the recovered loot for government expenditure?

    The Kaduna Central lawmaker insisted that all actions and decisions with respect to the loan request by his Committee and indeed this Senate will responsibly be done only on its merits.

    He said, “l will advise therefore, that as representatives of Mr. President, you put your best foot forward and be as convincing as possible with facts and figures for the Senate to fully have your back, with respect to these requests.

    “It has become clear that if Nigeria must borrow, we must borrow responsibly, we cannot afford to mortgage the future of our unborn generation; if we must bequeath to the future generation a pile debt, it must be justified with commensurate infrastructural proof of the value of the debt.”

    The committee chairman said “the payment plan of this debt will undoubtedly last the length of our lifetimes and possibly beyond. We must live behind a legacy that will appease and answer the questions the next generation of Nigerians will ask.

    “We must not allow our children and grand children be enslaved with chains of debts. Eurobond must not be another bondage to Europe.”

    Mrs. Adeosun on her part said that $2.5 billion of the loan request was already approved in the 2017 budget

    She said that the $2.5 billion was specifically to finance projects in parts of the country.

    She said that the duration of the loan could be anything from five to 30 years which would be determined when they get to the market.

    Represented by the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, the minister also said that the $3 billion is to upset local debts.

    She insisted that it is not healthy for the country to have such huge local debt hanging over the country.

    She said, “Borrowing at 7% interest rate in the international market is cheaper than borrowing at 17% or 18% interest rate in the local market.”

    “It is not the first time government is borrowing long term. It was done in the 60s. Hospitals, schools, roads have long term effect. They don’t go away. We are not postponing any payment. What happens is that  when they mature, we roll them over. It is not a case of default

    The government functionaries said that the $5.5 billion loan request has nothing to do with the virement request of the Federal Government.

    The committee members who wondered why the government could not resort to local resources in servicing the local loans, said that Nigerians must be told told how the projects the loans were to being sought for would assist in servicing and paying back the debts.

    On the Abuja Airport project, minister of state for aviation Hadi Serika, said he did not know the cost of the second Abuja runway which part of the $2.5 billion.

    The minister said that the cost has not been determined.

  • Amaechi, Dangote, Soyinka, others for transportation roundtable

    Amaechi, Dangote, Soyinka, others for transportation roundtable

    The Federal Ministry of Transportation plans to hold a roundtable aimed at bridging the infrastructural gap in the transport sector.

    The meeting will hold on November 9, in Lagos. It is expected to have as key participants, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, business mogul Aliko Dangote, and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    Others expected at the meeting are stakeholders in the transportation sector, captains of industry, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), AFRICEXIM Bank, and top government functionaries.

    The organisers of the roundtable, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), said the meeting that meering would enable relevant stakeholders brainstorm on ways to address the infrastructure deficit in the transport sector and, decongesting the seaports by ensuring the smooth take off of the Inland Container Depots (ICDs).

    The roundtable is also aimed at fine tuning arrangements for the establishment of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) to provide short-term resting place for truck drivers on long distance travels and reduce loss to life and cargo caused by accidents arising from fatigue.

    A statement by the Council’s Head of Special Duties, Ignatius Nweke, said the Minister of Transportation would be the Chief Host at the event and would lead discussions on funding for the Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and the Truck Transit Parks (TTP).

    “The roundtable will parade key transport industry stakeholders, Captains of Industry, notable among them, World’s richest black man and President of the Dangote Group and Abdulsamad Rabiu of the BUA Group.

    “It is primarily intended to engage leading investments and development companies and banks like the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), AFRICEXIM Bank and many other investors to bring in their resources and invest in these viable projects that would bring good returns within a short period of time,” Nweke said.

    He said Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema and Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr. Chidi Izuwah will be keynote speakers at the event.

    Nweke explained that while Inland Container Depots (ICDs) otherwise referred to as Dry Ports operate as centres for transshipment of sea cargo to inland destinations, Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) are places for short-term breaks and also long-term parking services where truck drivers can get fuel, food, restrooms, shower and basic supplies like oil and spare parts as well as servicing and repairs of haulage vehicles.

    He said the roundtable will among other things, deliberate on how to consolidate on the success recorded with the (ICDs), upon the completion of the Kaduna Dry Port.

    According to him, the roundtable will equally discuss the market analysis that has already been conducted as well as how the business and operating model can address the supply gap for a modern TTPs.

    “Feasibility studies has been conducted for the establishment of the Truck Transit Parks in Lokoja ( Kogi State); Obollo-Afor (Enugu State); Jebba (Kwara State); Ore (Ondo State) ; Ogere (Ogun State); Porto Novo Creek (Lagos state); Onitsha (Anambra State) and Mararaban Jos (Kaduna State),” he said.

    The statement said the Truck Transit Parks will have; gas station, hotel and motel, restaurants, mechanic workshop, fire station, police post, and automated cargo tracking system.