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Tag: Amaechi

  • Amaechi’s passion for good governance

    Good governance involves well-intentioned people who bring their ideas, experience, professionalism and preferences and other human strengths and short comings to the policy–making table. When those who championed and enthroned democracy speak one would not but nod in the affirmative.

    The forgoing assertions have become imperative to consider when one reflects on the leadership style of Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the then Rivers State Governor and his present activities as a Transportation Minister.

    A case study of the scenario of good governance can be best cited when Amaechi served as the Rivers State Governor from 2007 to 2015.

    The monumental achievements were unprecedented. Such passion for building massive infrastructures and manpower development within eight years in the twenty three local government areas of the state was ‘magical’ and uncommon among men in Nigeria political circle.

    It is a public knowledge that before Amaechi ascended to the position of the Governor in Rivers State, development was at its lowest ebb. Amaechi came on board and without delay rebuilt a new Rivers State before he left office in 2015.

    One will not forget in a hurry how Infrastructural development in terms of construction of roads, building of schools, hospitals etc became visible in all parts of the state in Amaechi’s era.

    As at the time his administration ended in May 2015, Rivers people were satisfied that Amaechi revolutionised the state from mess to glory.

    Amaechi’s intervention in the health sector was prompted due to the high level of mortality and maternity rates. Amaechi embarked on what he code named, “project 60-60-60”, meaning that the Government under him would hand over sixty completed and equipped ultra modern health centres to sixty communities in sixty days.

    These health centres had Resident Doctors and Matrons each in addition to other supporting health workers. Each of Amaechi’s Health Centres had furnished Doctors and Matrons’ quarters including pharmaceutical departments, stand by ambulances as well as other relevant sections just for the purpose of providing optimal health care delivery system.

    Amaechi’s Dental and Maxillofacial hospital standing tall around the Garrison junction of Port Harcourt was built to solve problems related with the tooth, mouth and other parts of the face.

    The hospital is well equipped and rated as the best in Africa in the category of Dental and Maxillofacial hospitals. The edifice is a must see for all including tourists. The foregoing is just a tip of the ice- berg in Amaechi’s health revolution and good governance in his home, Rivers State.

    The project “60-60-60” was also deployed in the education sector where Sixty Model Primary Schools were handed over to Sixty Communities in Sixty days.

    Amaechi targeted building 750 Model Primary Schools; he completed about five hundred of it and equipped them to standard. Each of the Schools had twenty classrooms equipped with ICT facilities, Modern Library, Science Lab, Football Pitch and Basketball Pitch as well as Volley Ball and Nursery play grounds.

    Amaechi’s Model Primary Schools were built to International standard of United Nations recommendation obtainable in developed world. The same was for Model Secondary Schools which were likened to Universities.

    The model secondary schools have recreational and boarding facilities including housing for teachers. The abysmal state of education in the state also propelled Amaechi to declare state of emergency in the sector.

    The successes recorded in the education sector left Amaechi’s education commissioner, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi with a ThisDay Newspaper award as the best education commissioner in the country.The award is just one of the numerous awards won by the smart, simple, intelligent, incorruptible and most friendly commissioner at the time.

    Amaechi also tackled the hydra-headed problem of gangsterism, cultism, armed robbery and kidnapping  as orchestrated by enemies of the state. These crimes were completely brought under stern control within his first one hundred days in office.

    In all, Amaechi successfully restored glory and breath of fresh air all over the state.The State was later nicknamed Rivers of Possibilities in Amaechi’s tenure.

    Amaechi’s passion for enthroning good governance dates back history as the then Speaker of the State House of Assembly. Amaechi loves delivering good governance in style just like he speaks about good governance with passion wherever he goes,Amaechi loves doing good.

    In a lecture he delivered last week at the Osun College of Education, titled “Good Governance and Sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria; Panacea for Nation Building”, Amaechi picked good governance and sustainable democracy as essentials and pre-conditions for nation building.

    Amaechi believes that for a nation foundation to be solid, good governance and sustainable democracy must be in place.

    For Amaechi, nation building is all about building a political entity, based on generally accepted rules, norms and principles. He believes that good governance is also about development and strengthening of independent state institutions like the Security agencies, Judiciary etc.

    Amaechi explained that effort must be made to ensure that Government institutions function properly and optimally with or without the human actor.

    According to Amaechi, “When government institutions are firmly established and devoid of political control and manipulation they guarantee the regularity of human conduct and how the system will respond in a given situation”.

    Amaechi identified some characteristics of good governance namely; participatory, consensus oriented, accountability, transparency, effectiveness, efficiency, equality, responsiveness and the rule of law.

    “Good governance is responsive to the present and future needs of the nation, exercises prudence in policy-setting and decision-making,and above all puts the best interests of all stakeholders into consideration”.

    For Amaechi, when Democracy which is the Government of the people, for the people and by the people is truly practiced in a nation and sustained, all the sectors of the nation varying from economic, political, social etc will appreciate and the nation would definitely grow.

    • Okpara, an aide of the transportation minister, sent this piece from Abuja
  • Amaechi and the Transportation University

    Amaechi and the Transportation University

    ike never before a lot of development is fast spreading in the transportation sector. The idea is to improve on the living standard of Nigerians and boost the economy generally. Another good news is that Nigeria will soon be one of the ranking countries in terms of affordable, efficient and quality transportation system.

    From the provision of modern rail to smooth and uninterrupted marine transport to smooth take-off and safe landing at the airports are daily priorities championed by the transportation Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. Aside from providing the desired comfort in transportation these laudable projects will create a lot of employment for the teeming unemployed youths across the country.

    For instance, the rail projects when completed are expected to employ over five thousand Nigerians. This will to an extent reduce crime and violence in the land. In this light however, questions concerning the maintenance of these rail projects by government have been raised considering that government over the years is not known for maintenance culture.

    This question which has raised a lot of concern in the polity has propelled Amaechi and his team of experts in the sector to propose for a Transportation University. The Transportation University is expected to groom prospective students and possibly run Diploma Programmes for those already in the sector on the repair and maintenance of the rail projects. The whole idea according to Amaechi, is to jettison reliance on expertrates when the need for repair and maintenance is required.

    The call by prominent Nigerians for the Senate to approve the borrowing plan that would require the Ministry of Transportation to access the required loans from the Chinese government is essentially needed to complete all ongoing projects in the sector.

    To this end, the Ministry of Transportation is in talks with experts in the rail sector to build a University of Transportation for Nigeria. Amaechi is optimistic that the emergence of the Transportation University would put Nigeria on the right part in terms of quality, efficient and reliable transportation delivery.

    In line with the present administration’s plan of encouraging local content, Amaechi is on course to see that maintenance, operation and repair of the entire rail system is not depended on the Chinese but Nigerians themselves.

    According to Amaechi “The truth is that we lack the skill for the maintenance and operation of the railway system in Nigeria. Over a long period of time the manpower eroded. What we are doing now is that we have agreed with General Electric (GE) or whichever company that wins the concession or the Chinese company that is going to do the Lagos-Kano railway to build the University of Transportation. In this University you have Aviation, Maritime and Railway.It is not every time that anything goes wrong you run to call the Chinese or the Americans to come and fix it. That is what is currently going on. If you go to the railway in Lagos or Ebute -Metta you will see all sorts of things they bought under Abacha that are not in use, this we want to stop,” he said.

    As a means of having the facility to improve and enhance local content in Railway Engineering the Ministry requires some experts in this regard. The Transportation University, if established, may be the first to offer courses in Railway Engineering in the country. The importance placed on Railway by the present administration is a welcome development.

    The need to establish a Transportation University is borne out of the fact that the rail infrastructures need to be improved upon and maintained adequately, this is so as railway has become a major back bone of the Nigeria economy.

    Corroborating Amaechi’s statement is Baba Kobi, the Director Rail Services in the Ministry. He said:“ As a means of having the facility to improve on capacity and enhance local content in Railway Engineering, you need to produce the required level of experts. I don’t know if there is any Nigerian university that is offering it as a course. We have recognised railway as a very important infrastructure to improve on our economy, which is also the desire of Nigerians at this point in time. Railway has become a major back bone of our economy, so it follows logically that we must have the local content in terms of knowledge and capacity to plan, build and operate the railway and that is where the idea and concept of Transportation University came about.

    “We have looked at the possibility of engaging the interested investors in the sector to add to their content, support for local capacity building in form of Transportation University. This is primarily the issue. It means that we may not have to bring the resources for this purpose, may be just to provide the support in terms of legislature and regulatory. From the need assessment, the little we have done is that the catchment area for students should be just like any conventional university in Nigeria, (i.e) go through the necessary procedure for admission.”

    Kobi went on: “This does not mean that the University cannot organise short courses for people to enhance their knowledge and capacity. Therefore, like any other conventional university they can develop diploma courses, especially for railway engineering. As far as we are concern in the transportation sector, we are making sure that we pay our own counterpart funding that will now give us access to borrow based on the borrowing plan, we will have the opportunity to realise the establishment of the university. For instance, all the projects that is coming under the CCECC, they are handling two major rail modernization projects for us which is the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar projects. These two projects, we have an understanding that they will establish a Transportation University for Nigeria,”he explained.

    • Okpara, an aide of the Transportaion minister, sent this piece from Abuja

  • Amaechi and modern rail system

    President Muhammadu Buhari on assumption of office announced his readiness to provide an efficient and effective transportation system through the total revitalisation of the country’s Railway sector. Since then, the Minister in charge of Transportation Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his team have been on their toes to deliver on the mandate giving to them by Mr. President.

    Amaechi and his team swung into action by ensuring the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna Railway which was consequently inaugurated for Commercial Services in July 2016 by the President. After that feat, Amaechi and his team have continued to pursue the objective of ensuring that Nigeria’s states are connected by modern Rail.  On the 7th of March, 2017,  Amaechi  led top officials of the Ministry to Ebute-Metta, Lagos,  where Acting President Yemi Osinbajo performed the ground-breaking of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard  Gauge Rail Line project with extension to Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

    Amaechi is committed to connecting the 36 states and FCT via modern Rail in actualisation of his party’s gospel of “Change”. The entire project, according to Amaechi, is the Lagos-Kano Railway Track. It was approved and awarded by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration under the Railway Modernisation Project. At the time the Project was awarded, Obasanjo was unable to get the required loan facility concluded before his administration ended. This was followed the administration of President Musa Yar’Adua, which also could not continue with the pursuit of the loan for reasons yet to be ascertained. But when former President Goodluck Jonathan took over, his government commenced negotiation for the loan and was able to secure about 800m dollars for the construction of the Abuja-Kaduna Railway line which his administration could not complete before the expiration of his tenure.

    When Buhari took over as President in May 2015 and with the appointment of Amaechi as the Transportation Minister in November 2015, Amaechi immediately took over the task of completing the project, including the extra-works which gulped about 1 billion and 85 million dollars.

    The Abuja-Kaduna Rail project, being Segment One of the entire Lagos-Kano project, was completed and inaugurated by President  Buhari in July 2016 while the Lagos-Ibadan which the Acting President, Osinbajo,  performed the Ground Breaking to mark the commencement of construction work in Lagos recently is the Segment Two of the Lagos-Kano Railway Line.

    The good news is that the China Exim Bank has paid its own counterpart fund for the project and the Federal Government is expected to pay 15% of its own counterpart funding. Although, the China Exim Bank is dishing out their own part of the financial obligation in segments, the Federal Government has promised to release the fund for Lagos-Ibadan same year, including the one for Kano-Kaduna segment. It is believed that by 2018-2019 the project would have been completed.

    The Federal Government has contributed its own 15% of the counterpart funding and the Chinese Government has also approved the loan for the project, but the loan cannot be accessed without the approval of the borrowing plan by the Nigerian Senate. As such and due to the important nature of this project, notable Nigerians have ceaselessly called on the National Assembly to ensure the approval of the borrowing plan.

    Among those who called for the Senate approval of the borrowing plan was the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu . He said: “To the honourable Senators, I am appealing to you in the name of God; our Chinese counterpart has fulfilled their own obligation on this project. It is up to you (Senators).  Let the Senate approve whatever is pending with them so that this project can take-off.”

    If the Senate fails to approve the borrowing plan submitted to it, the loan may not be granted by the Chinese Government and the resultant effect will be abandonment. The $30 billion loan was captured in the 2016 budget. The 2017 Budget essentially will take the project from Itakpe to Warri, Lagos to Calabar to PH and then Kano to Kaduna. The Ministry under Amaechi is on course to conclude the Rail projects in other to boost the country’s economic activities.

    Obasanjo introduced the Rail Modernisation Project which is essentially to construct new Rail Lines with Standard Gauge Rail Line from Lagos to Kaduna, Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar. With these three networks which are the old one of the Narrow Gauge, with the exception of the Lagos-Calabar, the entire Country would have been covered by Rail network.

    The Lagos-Calabar Rail Line is expected to take off from Lagos connecting Ajaokuta and the one which is expected to connect Ogun State will pass through Edo State, Delta State through Asaba and Anambra States through Onitsha, and then come back to continue from Benin to Sapele and Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, PH to Aba to Uyo to Calabar with a total coverage of the entire southern part.

    Amaechi is concerned about achieving quality and comfortable transportation system for Nigerians who have long waited for a time when they will enjoy safe trips in comfort and style without the stress of traffic jams, seating long hours in traffic etc.

    When Amaechi successfully completes the ongoing Rail projects, it would sure satisfy the aspirations of the people, enhance investors’ confidence, promote tourism and boost the economy generally. Amaechi who also spoke at the ground breaking ceremony said: “I am highly delighted to welcome you to this auspicious occasion of the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the 156km Double Standard Guage of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project with extension to the Lagos Port Complex at Apapa,Lagos. This project is the Segment two (2) having completed Segment one (1) which is the Abuja-Kaduna of the 273km of the Standard Gauge Railway Track of the Lagos-Kano Railway Track.”

    He continued: “The scope of the Lagos -Ibadan Railway Project which ground breaking ceremony is taking place involves Ancillary facilities which include the construction of Eight Railway Stations at Apapa and Ebute-Metta and Intermediate Stations at Agege, Kajola, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Onni-Adio. The Station at Olodo is a passing Station while the Station at Ibadan is an intermediate Station with Technical Operation. The Services for Locomotive workshop, Rolling Stock Depot and Marshalling yards will be located at Kajola, Ogun State”.

    Amaechi further said: “The extension of the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line to the Lagos Sea Port will significantly enhance the export and import trade of the country. This project is multifunctional for Passenger and Freight Services connecting three States, namely, Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States. It is also designed to have intermodal linkage with the Light Rail System of Lagos and Ogun States.”

    In the pursuit of these laudable targets, the Minister of Transportation needs the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the Nigeria Project.

     

    • Okpara sent this piece from Abuja

  • Amaechi… A minister’s humility

    For the first time in history, a Minister in charge of Transportation had dropped the aura of his executive office to attend a function organised by the ‘seemingly neglected’ in the Society.

    Tricycle and Motorcycle riders popularly called “Okada”, under the aegis of Amalgamated Commercial Tricycles and Motorcycles Owners Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) had penultimate week organized their 2017 day anniversary, with the theme “the role of tricycles and motorcycles in transport development”, with the Transportation Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the chief host.

    The group has its members cut across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT. As it was in the past governments, the leaders of the group had thought that the Minister would ignore their invitation or possibly delegate someone else to represent him. The leadership of ACOMORAN had also thought that considering public perception about ‘Okada’ men it would be unthinkable for such a high ranking political office holder to dream of attending their occasion.

    But to their greatest surprise, the Honorable Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi stormed the event. As a Man of principle who keep to time and a show of humility, Amaechi arrived at the venue of the event before the National Leadership of the group and majority of her members.

    The occasion was bid to commence at 11: am with expected Guests arriving at 10:30 am but Amaechi got there at exactly 10:15am with only an insignificant number of members and other invited Guests already seated.

    Amaechi arrived the auditorium took his seat and waited for the arrival of the host and other top ranking dignitaries of the National Assembly whom were expected at the event.

    Some members of the group who were present when Amaechi arrived the hall were seen making calls here and there probably to alert their leadership and other members about Amaechi’s timely arrival.

    Fourty minutes later, leaders and other members of the group including expected dignitaries started arriving. Some of the dignitaries invited were the former Zamfara State governor, Senator Sanni Yerima, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and host of others.

    Amaechi waited patiently and took his time to welcome those who were meant to welcome him. Amaechi would not give a damn to his political status, he would not underrate anyone.

    But before the guests started trooping in those ‘Okada’ riders who were seated before Amaechi arrived were spotted struggling to take pictures with the Honourable Minister.

    For some of them it was the first time seeing Amaechi one-on-one, so it was an opportunity to have a picture with a man who championed the change Nigerians are currently enjoying.

    It was also an opportunity to have a handshake with a man whom they believe is simple, humble and bold to speak the truth, a man whom they perceived to be good and relates with the people.

    It was also an opportunity to exchange pleasantries with a man who was tortured by the past government due to his stand in speaking the truth at all times.

    Some said they would boldly display on their face book and WatSap accounts the pictures they snapped with Amaechi. They referred to Amaechi as a hero of democracy.

    When the occasion kick started with the introduction of dignitaries to the high table, the anchor had said, been the chief host, Amaechi would be the last to assume his seat on the high table as according to him  “big masquerade dey appear last”.

    But When Amaechi was finally told to assume his seat on the high table he realized that a Professor seated closed to him was not recognised on the high table, swiftly, Amaechi said to the MC ” If you don’t invite Prof. to the high table I will not go there”.

    Amaechi’s statement triggered a thunderous applaud by the crowd on Amaechi himself.

    The event was a memorable one and members of the group were excited at Amaechi’s presence and his show of humility to the University Professor.

    In his speech, the National President of ACOMORAN Alhaji Shehu Maihula Babangida described Amaechi as a “great supporter of the downtrodden”.

    Babangida said “Permit me to specially recognize the efforts and supports of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, (CON), who has also been total in his support. Amaechi is a great supporter, the Minister is an icon of great repute to ACOMORAN in terms of his unflinching support and encouragement received from him either as a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly or as a former Governor of Rivers State”.

    “The Minister has played a vital role in the transportation sector. He has totally transformed the sector from rot and perpetual decay”.

    Babangida also said his group has reduced drastically the rate of crime in the country by engaging the vulnerable youths who would have been involved in armed robbery and other social vices.

    ” Interestingly too, we have accomplished three cardinal things namely; massive reduction of unemployment in the country by engaging individuals who would have been jobless, we have also reduced the act of criminality in the country and we have contributed to the macroeconomic development of Nigeria”.

    Amaechi’s decision to parley with ‘Okada’ men was his style of associating with the poor and down- trodden in the land. It is inherent in Amaechi to romance with the hopeless and build trust and hope in them.

    Amaechi is indeed a “great supporter”, he is indeed, “the peoples minister”, and I dare to say that if there is any Nigerian minister both past and serving that can abandon the luxury of his office and stoop so low to mingling with the most dejected and neglected in the land, Amaechi is the answer.

    For some members of the ACOMORAN whom I interacted with, Amaechi’s presence at their event has rekindled their hope in life. It has also shown that indeed change has come.The group also used the occasion to pray for Amaechi and quick recovery of President Muhamadu Buhari.

    On his part, Amaechi hailed the union members and their leadership for their contribution to nation building. Amaechi explained that his Ministry recognises the role played by the transporters in the economy not only in terms of growing their own personal economy but growing a national economy.

    “The ministry of transportation recognizes the role you play in the economy not only in terms of growing your personal economy but also growing a national economy because transportation is logistics. It is the movement of goods and services from one point to the other. Its absence can mean that the economy cannot grow, so you create that job, not only do you create that job you also create services in other to grow the economy”.

    “You provide the easiest and quickest means of transportation. Tricycles and Motorcycles are used for Agricultural purposes. You convey goods from one place to another and people depend on you because you are cheaper than the rest means of transportation and so nobody should undermine you, nobody should take you for granted”, Amaechi explained.

    But however, Amaechi also told the group the hard truth about public perception on them. He noted that while Nigerians recognise their importance they have become associated with lawlessness and recklessness.

    “Majority of Nigerians recognise your importance, they recognise that you take them from one point to the other, the only problem is that people believe you are reckless. Before, the number of accident and the rate at which people were dying and losing their legs seem to be very high but now it has gone down. People think you are reckless, they think you are disobedient to road signs, there is impatient and you park any where you see”,he said.

     

    • Okpara, an aide of the Minister of Transportation, sent this piece from Abuja.

     

  • PDP set to woo back Atiku, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    PDP set to woo back Atiku, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    •Committee: we must capitalise on APC mistakes to take back power

    The  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to woo back former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and other key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    PDP also hopes to capitalise on “the disenchantment” of Nigerians with the government, which has led to protests.

    These were part of recommendations of the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Strategic Review and Inter Party Affairs Committee set up by the Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, which has submitted its report to the party.

    The 201-member committee had former governors, former ministers, former legislators and prominent leaders as members.

    It urged the party to begin a process of identifying and attracting new partners and forging formidable alliances challenge the ruling APC in 2019.

    Opposing any change of the name of the party to reflect the new alliances that might arose, the committee said: “While we encourage the absorption or reception of any group or persons wishing to join the party, it is recommended that the name PDP should be retained and not changed while the interest of such groups or persons should be accommodated only in terms of ideas or principles for as long as such principles and ideas are not averse to the principles of the party.”

    The report said: “The party should make deliberate efforts towards identifying genuine aggrieved members, who left the party as well as court new members. A list of members, who left the party, should be compiled with the intention of contacting them at the appropriate time.

    “A special committee should be set up to contact and mediate with all aggrieved members, including those who left the party as well as to woo new members

    “The various mis-steps of the APC government now and in the future, plus the hunger and suffering of the people due to the recession under the watch of the APC government, will automatically translate into PDP votes that will ensure PDP victory in the 2019 general election.

    “The PDP must attract new potential partners and forge formidable alliances that can effectively challenge the ruling APC in 2019. The party must be proactive in opposition so as to reduce every planned intimidation and frustration.”

    The committee said conflicts among members arising from the arrogance and impunity on the part of party leaders and lack of consultation and internal democracy as being responsible for the grievances that tore the party apart and cost it the 2015 elections.

    It expressed regret that Senator Ali Modu Sherrif’s “short and controversial tenure as national chairman” inflicted difficulties on the party as manifested in Edo and Ondo states as the party became pre-occupied with legal matters, denied the use of its national headquarters and portrayed it as an unstable party deep in crisis.

    It said: “Inadequate reward system (use and dump syndrome) accounted for disloyalty by members of the party”, adding that “after 16 unbroken years as the party in government, the PDP needs to come to terms with the realities of being in the opposition.

    “We should go out to recruit members, not be arrogant about it and be aware that new members will only join the party of assured that they would, on joining the party, enjoy unhindered membership benefits and privileges available in the party.

    “The practice in the party was that party leaders, party officials and influential stakeholders set aside rules and the stipulations of the party constitution and act in their own interest. Party rules and regulations were thus violated with regularity, impunity and bravado.”

  • Amaechi… Let your will be done!

    Amaechi… Let your will be done!

    Not long ago Transportation Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi appeared before the Senate Committee on Land Transport to defend the ministry’s 2017 budget. The minister also was at the House of Representatives to brief the members on the same issue. In the twin appearances, Amaechi had in his delegation directors and the permanent secretary of the ministry.

    Amaechi tagged his budget speech “budget of consolidation and sustenance”. He reeled out his plans on how to improve on his paste of commitment and appealed to the National Assembly to help expedite action by approving the country’s own counterpart funding for the Kano-Kaduna segment 3 of Lagos-Kano rail line and Calabar-Port Harcourt with extension to Onne Deep Sea Port segment of the Coastal Rail Line (Lagos-Calabar rail line).

    Amaechi’s will is for Nigerians to enjoy non -stop the dividends of the change mantra gospel. His will is to galvanize the transportation sector so much that the ‘change’ idea is felt by all and sundry.

    Amaechi is working tirelessly to achieve success. Day and night Amaechi focuses on the Nigerian dream, his thought for Nigerians are of good and not of evil; his prayer for Nigeria is the unity of purpose. Amaechi is a driver of the Nigerian project, trusted, tested and has possessed the required experience to succeed.

    Amaechi’s will is to place the transportation sector equal to world class standard. But this will be made possible if Nigerians jettison partisan politics, come together and pray for their leaders. Nigeria does not require unnecessary protest to grow or develop, the requirement is prayer for our leaders nothing more.

    Those who have led us in the past and brought us to the mess we are experiencing should turn a new leaf. We can only succeed if all hands are on deck. Those who are orchestrating Nigeria break-up should bear in mind that in unity we will stand and in division we will fall.

    At the budget defense Amaechi explained how the ministry intends to achieve set goals and improve on the lots of Nigerians. In that occasion, Amaechi showed how much love he has for Nigerians by ensuring that the things that will do in bettering the transportation sector are all enshrined in the budget.

    Amaechi defended the budget with passion. The chairman, senate committee on land transport, Senator Gbenga B. Ashafa could not hold back his feelings as he nodded unstoppably in agreement with Amaechi’s speech. Other committee members also listened with rapt attention as the speech progressed. One could feel some level of approval in the minds of the committee members, one could also feel some level of support they would render for the budget to scale through, one could also feel how happy they are with  President Muhammadu Buhari for putting a square peg in a round hole.

    Even my colleagues, the pen holders saw the zeal in Amaechi, they saw a Minister with the capacity to deliver, they saw a gentleman whose only business for been a Minister is to deliver on his mandate, my colleagues saw a vibrant and action Minister.

    In his well articulated speech, Amaechi said, “I have the privilege to present to you; distinguished members of the senate committee on land transport the 2016 budget implementation status and our proposal for 2017 which is before you for consideration.”

    “The total capital appropriation for 2016 was N153,465,547,025.00 out of which N31,400,966,847.04 was released to the ministry. The distinguished senators may wish to note that the sum of N120billion appropriated for counterpart funding will be accessed as soon as we finalize the loan agreement with China Exim Bank before the end of 2016 fiscal year”.

    “Government will pursue the railway modernization project with greater vigor in 2017 to achieve practical completion of the Kaduna (Idu) – Kaduna (Rigasa) segment 1 of Lagos-Kano rail line which is already operational. In the first quarter of 2017, the foundation of the Lagos-Ibadan segment 2 of the Lagos-Kano rail project is expected to be laid.”

    “ It is also envisaged that segment 3 of the Lagos – Kano rail project which is Kano-Kaduna stretch as well as the first phase of the coastal railway line (Lagos-Calabar) commencing from Calabar to Port Harcourt with extension to Onne Deep Sea port will commence in 2017 after the conclusion of the negotiation of a financing loan agreement”.

    “The ministry is in the process of procuring additional locomotive and coaches to meet the rising demand of passenger traffic on the Abuja (Idu)-Kaduna (Rigasa) rail line.”

    “ Distinguished senators, the budget proposal before your committee captures expenditure relating to the completion of the projects earlier mentioned and also includes counterpart payment for the Kano-Kaduna segment 3 of Lagos-Kano rail line and Calabar-Port Harcourt with extension to Onne Deep Sea Port segment of the coastal rail line(Lagos-Calabar rail line).”

    “May I at this juncture inform you that as the ministry is pursuing the implementation of government policy in the land transport sub-sector in Nigeria, it also relates with ECOWAS for compliance on International Protocols and Conventions entered into in respect of the sub-sector”.

    “Critical examples are the realisation of the Inter- State Road Transport (ISRT) scheme and the establishment of National Freight Offices, both targeted at facilitating trade and transit in the sub-region. The ISRT scheme presently generates huge revenue and creates employment in countries like Ghana and Gambia where the scheme commenced over a decade ago”.

    “ Let me assure you that the ministry will work with you at all times in our collective effort in transforming the land transport sub-sector for the benefit of all Nigerians”, he said.

    But earlier, the chairman senate committee on land transport, Senator Gbenga B. Ashafa had praised Amaechi and his team for the good jobs been witnessed in the transportation sector particularly on the completion of the Idu to Kaduna rail line. The senate was quite impressed with the effort made by Amaechi and his men for bettering the lots of Nigerians.

    Senator Ashafa took time to read his speech of thanks to Amaechi and his team. Some of the parts in the two pages address presented by senator Ashafa reads ,“It is with a great sense of responsibility that I welcome you to the 2017 budget defense exercise organized by the senate committee on land transport”.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, since the commencement of this administration, today’s exercise would be the second of its kind. Few practical examples of our role have been our defense of the Calabar to Lagos railway modernization project which led to its ultimate inclusion in the 2016 appropriation act on one hand as well as the committee’s effort at the passage of the railway bill, 2016”.

    “Hence, let me seize this opportunity to congratulate the Hon. Minister and his team on the successful completion of the Idu to Kaduna rail line. We hope that in the current year, we would see more of those successful implementations of the capital projects in our budget. We are resolved to work together with Mr. President’s mandate to curb waste and improve efficiency of government spending”, he said.

     

    • Okpara is an aide of Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi
  • Senate to Amaechi: Retract claim on foreign loans

    Senate to Amaechi: Retract claim on foreign loans

    The Senate on Wednesday asked the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to withdraw his claim that the National Assembly’s refusal to approve foreign loan requests was stalling projects execution in country.

    The upper chamber said Amaechi made the statement during Monday’s North Central Town Hall meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    Senate said the minister reportedly claimed that the refusal of the National Assembly to approve the government’s request for foreign loan that will be used for counterpart funding was frustrating the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna -Kano rail lines.

    The Senate, in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the statement was not only “false, misrepresenting and contradictory to available facts but also portrayed the minister as somebody that is not in tune with the position of the government in which he is serving.”

    The statement said: “As at today, the only request for approval from the Executive for loan was the one dated January 27, 2017 and signed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo seeking a ‘resolution of the National Assembly for the Issuance of $1 billion EuroBond in the international capital market for the funding of the 2016 budget deficit’ and we immediately granted the approval.

    “Also, in the letter quoted above, the government mentioned the two rail lines cited by the minister as part of the projects for which the EuroBond will be utilised. So, we cannot understand what the grouse of Mr. Amaechi is.

    “We view that statement based on false and misinformed premise strongly as a mere attempt to incite the people against the National Assembly. The minister should therefore withdraw that statement. Furthermore, the National Assembly will take up the matter with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    “As a former Speaker of a state House of Assembly, we believe that a minister like Amaechi should always check his facts and refrain from making unguarded and inciting remarks against the legislature.

    “What Nigeria needs at this point is for all arms of government to work together and create the synergy necessary to take Nigeria out of the present economic crisis we have found ourselves. Comments designed to infuriate one arm of government or incite the people against another arm of the government will do no one any good and we do not expect such statements from a minister in the present government.”

  • ‘NIMASA ‘ll continue to make progress with Buhari’s, Amaechi’s support’

    ‘NIMASA ‘ll continue to make progress with Buhari’s, Amaechi’s support’

    The Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Maj.-Gen. Jonathan Garba (rtd.), has said the agency will continue to make progress with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
    Maj.-Gen. Garba spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Sunday night.
    He disclosed that the agency was doing a lot at the Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, noting that NIMASA had been placing emphasis on training and retraining of the staff, as well as adequately motivating the employees and other officials, to ensure impressive performance.
    The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said he met competent but demoralised workforce on assumption of office ten months ago.
    The director-general revealed that he met at NIMASA, a dysfunctional structure and decayed infrastructure, while the agency also veered off its core mandate.
    He noted that NIMASA was being restructured and repositioned for better service delivery.
    Peterside added that a multi-storey building, which will aserve as NIMASA’s zonal office, would be built in Port Harcourt and similar structure would be constructed in Warri, Delta State, as well as a port office in Onne.
    He said: “We are on course in NIMASA. We are determined to get it right. For the first time in many years, over 300 staff of NIMASA were promoted. We get the workers involved in every step, through effective communication. We are enjoying maximum cooperation of the NIMASA team. We cherish their cooperation. The board of NIMASA has been supportive.
    “We are enhancing investors’ confidence in the maritime industry. NIMASA will be a world-class agency. We also raised the bar on surveillance in the maritime environment.
    “NIMASA cannot fund the Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State. No provision for NIMASA to fund the university, which was initiated by the agency. The Maritime University will be funded by the Federal Government, which is sustainable. NIMASA can give technical and intellectual support to the new university. NIMASA currently contributes 5 per cent of its earnings to the Maritime Academy, Oron.
    “Sea piracy in Nigeria has drastically dropped, because of effective surveillance by NIMASA, sharpening of the intelligence-gathering activities, closer collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, with response capability enhanced, while there is a push for the passage of the dedicated Anti-Piracy Bill, the first in Africa, which is an executive bill.”

    The director-general also stated that NIMASA had made tremendous progress, in spite of the challenges, while assuring of better days ahead.

  • FG secures $7. 5bn loan for Lagos–Kano rail line

    FG secures $7. 5bn loan for Lagos–Kano rail line

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday said Federal Government has secured $7. 5 billion loan for the construction of standard rail gauge from Lagos to Kano.

    Amaechi stated this during the North Central Town Hall meeting ‎held in Ilorin for the people of Kogi, Niger and Kwara States, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The minister said the loan was secured from a Chinese bank and the ministry is waiting for  the National Assembly approval to access the loan.

    He said $1. 4 billion was for the construction of the rail gauge from Lagos to Ibadan, while $6. 1 billion would be used on Ibadan–Ilorin–Minna-Kaduna– Kano line.

    The minister added that Kaura Namoda–Funtua rail line would be revived.

    He urged Nigerians to impress it on the National Assembly to approve the loan for work on the project to commence.

    He added that the central rail project from Itakpe to Warri would be completed before the end of 2017, while narrow gauge line from Ilorin–Minna would also commence during the year.

    Amaechi said plans were underway to connect Abuja to other parts of the country through the central line at Warri, while the Jos Inland Port would be completed in June this year.

  • Amaechi…Truth, transparency and fairness

    Amaechi…Truth, transparency and fairness

    Writing about truth, transparency and fairness quickly reminds me of the Rotimi Amaechi era in Rivers State. The eight years rule of the Ubima- born politician was a memorable one.

    Frankly speaking, it was the period underdevelopment paved way for development, it was the period when democracy was enthroned in all parts of the state, it was also a period that men, I mean men held the positions they occupied in high esteem with high regard to truth, transparency, fairness and accountability.

    For sure, if we consider the success story of Amaechi in Rivers State every average Rivers man would concur that Amaechi drove Rivers State to a new destination with sincerity and fairness.

    His modus operandi in governance was open, such that people could access his administration with ease. His penchant for transparency and accountability translated into so many visible projects he built while in office. His accountability theory pre -supposes the need to periodically update the people on how government is administered to them.

    Amaechi’s aim of updating the people time to time on how funds were judiciously used was targeted at keeping the people abreast with happenings in his administration. It was a period when Rivers people in their numbers thronged the Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre to ask questions about their monies and how it was used to develop the state.

    Amaechi’s government in Rivers State was a participatory government. Everybody was carried along in the scheme of things in one way or the other. The accountability forum provided ample opportunity for the people especially the down-trodden to rub minds with the governor one on one and chart the way forward for a better Rivers state.

    Amaechi’s priority was heavily anchored on the welfare of the people. At the accountability forum, Amaechi would direct all the Commissioners and Heads of Government Agencies and Parastatals to appear before the people to give account of how they ran their respective offices with a view to improving on governance in line with the open policy of government which had no hidden agenda for the good people of Rivers State.

    Then, despite his tight schedule Amaechi ensured that government business was not disrupted. All political office holders who served in Amaechi’s tenure were put on their toes to deliver on their assignments.  I dare to say that, Amaechi undoubtedly at the time ran the most responsible government in the country and his projects were greeted with accolades in all the nook and crannies of our nation.

    Throughout his eight years reign as Governor, Amaechi rescued Rivers State from rot and perpetual decay. Even at the tail end of his administration in his second tenure when he was starved of funds from the Federal Government of  former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Amaechi ensured that projects started under his tenure were 90 percent completed before he left office in 2015.

    It was in Amaechi’s tenure that the state introduced a compulsory savings of about N1billion monthly in her reserved fund for the rainy days. Amaechi was confident that the compulsory monthly savings which amounted to about N19 billion at a point was utilized for projects execution.

    Then, despite his ordeal by those who wanted to strangulate his administration financially, Amaechi focused in serving the people creditably well with the funds generated.

    “While saving the One billion Naira monthly, I knew that there could be a time when the economy of the country or state will be challenging, so, I started saving the money in our reserve fund. The approval of the 19 billion naira by the Rivers State House of Assembly from the reserve fund will help us to complete our projects”, he explained.

    Amaechi never embezzled money meant for the development of the oil rich state. Under him Rivers State became the first to implement the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) act in Nigeria.

    At a point, the Director General (DG) of the Public Procurement in the state was referred to as the alternative Governor by Cabinet members. The Cabinet members had wanted an amendment to that law, their reason was that the (DG) of Procurement refused to increase the threshold to one hundred million naira per Ministry. Instead he reduced it to ten million naira.

    Amaechi had a ‘battle’ with the DG and World Bank who insisted that the Cabinet should not go for amending the law but rather persuade the DG to increase the threshold.  The Cabinet had attempted going to Court against the DG, the DG also tried to go to court against the Commissioners. A scenario of this nature could only happen in a transparent Government.

    Amaechi said: “In fact, the procurement DG wrote a memo to me that I felt was very incriminating requesting that since the law requires the governor to take any commissioner who doesn’t comply with the Public Procurement law to Court that I should take the Commissioner of Education to court for not complying. The Cabinet members felt the DG was slowing the process of government.”

    As a Federal Minister of Transportation, Amaechi has not done things differently when it comes to being fair and transparent in government business(es); He is still running a transparent government and uphold transparent leadership, which he believes so much and cherished.

    At a function where he spoke about corruption in government, Amaechi urged Nigerians to participate in government by engaging political appointees on open government.

    Amaechi said: “Please come to all of us in government, all the Ministers in government and engage us on open government. For me, for Ministry of Transportation any information you want us to give you, please write to us, we will not only give you, we will give you on time. This is because all of us that have become ministers have been entrusted by the president. His first policy is corruption; the second one is economic development.

    “We have been appointed by the President to go and do those following things to ensure that there are funds that we save from the people’s money to develop the Community and the Community we have is the Nigerian community.

    “Indeed, you are our leaders, we are here by the grace of God and by your grace and we believe that you have right to ask questions, we believe that you have the right to demand accountability from Ministers, we believe that nobody has the right to rise from just being an ordinary graduate of a University by courtesy of holding public office, he now owns mansions, cars etc.”

    When leaders are transparent, it allows people to be objective in evaluating them. If a leader is transparent, especially during the worst of times, you actually strengthen your leadership.

    Most of the people close to Amaechi are aware that their love for the Minister grew ticker because of his openness to issues.  Amaechi has nothing to hide. He believes that the truth should always prevail in all circumstances.

    Amaechi also believes that openness can potentially avoid misunderstandings capable to fueling unnecessary tension. As a transparent leader, Amaechi has encouraged people to come around him and channel their issues because to him transparency is a powerful unifier that forces a team to work smarter together.

    Amaechi knows that team building through transparency takes shape when he being the leader of the team openly discusses what he believes is the strengths and weaknesses of the Ministry. In his style, Amaechi allows everyone to openly share their views in other to strategically match people to handle certain assignments.

    Amaechi believes in transparency such that his office is open and accessible to all regardless of tribe or party affiliations. Amaechi’s example will certainly build trust and should be emulated by leaders .He clearly understands that we are leaving in a society where people want and expect their leaders to be more proactive in meeting their needs,he could spend a whole day in his office attending to visitors particularly Tuesdays and Thursdays which are marked for visiting.

    For Amaechi, transparency, fairness, truth and above all the grace of God are the reasons he is succeeding in his political race since he ventured into politics. Nigerians want to relate to their leaders, they want to know that their leaders have experienced the same problems and or how they have overcome personal hardships. Amaechi is working hard to do the needful in the position he occupies.

    Civil Servants in Amaechi’s ministry have never had it so good before. The robust relationship that exists between Amaechi and staff of the Transportation Ministry cannot be overemphasized.

    In a meeting Amaechi held with staff of the Ministry, he urged the workers to live up to expectation by discharging their duties creditably. Amaechi also urged them to support the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed.

    After his speech, many had taught that the meeting had come to an end but Amaechi would not leave without hearing from the staff. He threw -open the floor for questions and contributions and one after the other they (workers) started bombarding the Minister with questions concerning their welfare. But, before then, Amaechi had told them to speak their minds and jettison fear and inferiority complex.

    “If you know me you would know that I like speaking my mind, I like speaking the truth and I like being fair and sincere. So speak your mind, don’t be scared of anybody, nobody will punish you for speaking your mind”, he said.

     

    • Okpara, an aide of the minister of transportation, sent this piece from Abuja.