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Tag: Amaechi

  • Use Maritime Academy to build capacity, Amaechi told

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has urged the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, to ensure that the Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, promotes capacity building.

    It urged the government to train the academy’s students on protecting the country’s waterways from pollution, illegal fishing and dumping of hazardous waste, which it noted, were on the rise.

    The associations President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said maritime was a global and lucrative business, stressing that the Federal Government must empower youths and enrich the country through the academy.

    Shittu said it was not enough for the minister to focus on maritime agencies, but to ensure that the institute employs qualified workers and admits qualified students.

    The management of the academy, Shittu said, must ensure that it is alive to its statutory responsibilities, adding that the institution must provide the human capacity required for the sector in addition to serving as a research and knowledge centre for academics and the youths, who are interested in the acquisition of maritime training and knowledge.

    The establishment of the academy, he noted, was in furtherance of the the government’s passion for building local capacity in the sector and the export of such manpower.

    The dumping of toxic waste in the maritime domain and the increasing crimes on the coastline, he noted, require commitment on the side of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). This, he said, will enhance  cooperation with foreign partners to build maritime capability.

    The ANLCA chief said Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand had set the stage for cooperation between states, both in information exchange and mobilisation of resources.

    Since piracy is not the only threat to maritime security, another member, Shittu, advised the government to adopt best practices that can be implemented.

  • Agents petition Amaechi over proposed sharing of ports’ charges

    Agents petition Amaechi over proposed sharing of ports’ charges

    • Why ANLCA is kicking, by council

    Should the Practitioners Operating Fees (POF) collected at the ports by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) be shared among its five affiliated associations?

    The proposed sharing of the cash is said to have pitched the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) against the other four groups.

    The others are National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and the National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC).

    CRFFN, it was gathered, may rake in over N2 billion yearly at the ports and land borders from  POF.

    The approved charges are, N1.50 per kilometre for air cargo, N1,000 per 20-foot container, N2,000 per 40-foot container, N500 per car/suv, N1,000 per truck or 20-foot equivalent, N2,000 per truck or 40-foot equivalent, N3.50 per tonnes for general cargo and N1.00 per tonnes for dry bulk cargo.

    To ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, the money should go to the Presidency instead of being shared by the ports associations.

    The money, he said, should be used by the government to develop port infrastructure and boost the economy.

    “ANLCA is the umbrella body of the Customs agents and we cannot pay money to the CRFFN that would be shared by the freight forwarders that contributed nothing to the purse.

    “Government should look for ways of collecting the money through the CRFFN without sharing with associations so that the money will go straight to the government and not to individuals and that is the position of ANLCA.

    “Some of the associations the CRFFN proposed to share the money with are going to contribute little or nothing to the fund because of their population,” he said.

    ANLCA, Shittu said, had written to Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi on the need for talks over the matter.

    But a senior official of CRFFN, who pleaded not to be named said that the council is empowered to collect POF nationwide and to take 60 per cent of the collection.

    “The problem over the collection started when ANLCA National President Prince Olayiwola Shittu resigned from the council, following the approval granted CRFFN by the Federal Government to collect transaction fees at seaports, airports, and land borders.

    “The crisis generated by the approval forced the former Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, to rescind his decision and directed the council to stop the collection of the fees from port operators.

    “But our position is that after collecting the 60 per cent, the council is to give 35 per cent of the amount collected to ANLCA, NAGAFF, NCMDLCA, AREFF and NAFFAC. The remaining five per cent would be shared among registered freight forwarders.

    “The reason ANLCA is kicking is because they don’t want the money to be shared equally. In the Animal Farm, ANLCA claimed, some are more equal than the other.

    “They want the money to be shared based on the contribution of each association to the fund. If association A contributed 20 per cent to the fund and association B contributed five per cent, let A take 20 per cent in the sharing formula and association B take five per cent. To them, you cannot reap where you don’t sow and that is the position the group wants the CRFFN to follow,” the official said.

    Also, a senior Customs officer who does not want his name in print kicked against the collection of the fees.

    “The service is of the opinion that the charges will no doubt cause delays in the clearance of goods at the port, thereby, leading to port congestion. Its implementation will also increase the cost of doing business with its attendant implication on the cost of goods and services,” he said.

  • Fed Govt to complete Jos dry port, says Amaechi

    Fed Govt to complete Jos dry port, says Amaechi

    The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amechi has expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to the completion of the abandoned Inland Deport,  Jos, Plateau State.

    The Minister made the pledge while on a visit to the project site, Hypang, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

    Amaechi, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Inland Deport in the Ministry, Mr. Sola Ogunreye during the assessment visit said it was designed to allow the government assess the level of damage done to the company by the immediate past administration of the state.

    “The Ministry is by the visit, exploring avenues to revitalise the project as well proffereways of resuscitating the company.

    “It is an executive damage done on the project; it is a barbaric and a major set back to the development of any society.

    “Plans for the establishment of the port was wonderfully designed. It was aimed at taking care of the Central region in growing the nation’s resources and create jobs for youths in the state.

    In his remarks, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, represented by Commissioner of Land and Survey, Festus Faunter said the project is dear to the heart of the state government because of its capacity to turn around the economy of the state and the host communities.

    Lalong said: “The coming together of the state government and the Federal Ministry of Transport to revive this project is strategic in the exploration of the non-oil sector in the state and the country considering the resolution of their just concluded state executive retreat to diversify the economy.”

  • Wike’s allegation on stolen $150m is imaginary, says Amaechi

    Wike’s allegation on stolen $150m is imaginary, says Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has described the allegation by Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, that he stole $150 million from Rivers State to sponsor the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an imaginary tale and another scurrilous fabrication.

    He said the allegation was in furtherance of Wike’s administration’s one-point agenda of throwing mud at him, which he said was grossly irresponsible, repugnant, contemptuous and a feckless mission of denigrating and disparaging him.

    Amaechi, ex-governor of Rivers, stated these yesterday in an online statement from his Media Office.

    Wike levelled the allegation on Sunday, while speaking at a thanksgiving at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumueprikom-Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, on his January 27 victory at the Supreme Court.

    Amaechi’s Media Office said: “The ‘story-story’ this time is about another phantom $150 million that Amaechi purportedly stole from Rivers State government’s coffers and siphoned to his party, the APC, within 18 days, from December 1 to 18 of 2014. Sadly again, Wike picked a church, a sacred temple of God to tell his new imaginary tale, another bogus, fallacious concoction.

    “This new scurrilous fabrication by Governor Wike is in sync with the one-point agenda of the Wike administration, which is to throw as much mud as possible at former Governor Amaechi, hoping that some may at least stick. All sorts of spurious stories about alleged corruption and stealing of state funds against the Amaechi’s administration, have been bandied in the media with no attempt to substantiate or prove these distorted false claims that completely make nonsense of common sense.”

     

  • Terminal operators are volating agreement, ministry official alleges

    Terminal operators are volating agreement, ministry official alleges

    • Buhari, Amaechi urged to intervene as concession ends in May

    Three months before the expiration of their 10-year concession, some port terminal operators have been accused of violating some terms of the agreement.

    They are said to have “systemically broken the lease fees” condition and also collected demurrage and storage charges on weekends and public holidays in contravention of the agreement.

    According to the concession, the operators can only collect such charges on “business days”, which are defined as days “banks are not authorised or required to close”.

    A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF), who raised the alarm, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Transport Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to plug loopholes at the ports and ensure that the operators generate more revenue in the face of the falling oil price.

    He noted that contrary to the concession, the operators have been paying the same amount as “lease fees” since 2009.

    The operators, the official alleged, are conniving with some ports officials to short-change the government on the amount they are expected to pay yearly.

    He enjoined Buhari and Amaechi to ensure that a throughput fee calculated on the basis of one United States dollar ($1) per tonne handled on the premises of each  terminal in case of both Bulk and break-bulk cargo and $16 per TEU handled in the terminal for containers are paid to the government.

    “The amount is payable in arrears at the end of each monthly period beginning on the first day of the first month after the ‘effective date’ they took over the terminals.

    “Government must also ensure that the throughput fee, together with the fixed ‘lease fees’ are paid as stipulated by the concession agreement to boost the economy.

    “It is stated in Appendix F of the concession agreement that throughput fee shall be assessed on empty and laden containers, import/export cargoes and shell be paid to the less or within five days after the last day of the applicable period,’’ he said.

    The operators, the official said, are not expected to pay the same amount to the government as lease fees yearly.

    “Apart from the initial $2 million some of them paid as ‘commencement fee’ to operate in each of the terminals in May 2006, they are expected to pay a fixed annual payment of between $8 million and $10 million in each of the first three year (May 2006-May 2009) and $19.5 million each year between June 2009 and May, this year, he said.

    Some operators, the official noted, have not added value to their services and terminals since the ports were handed over to them, accusing them of not following “Prudent Industry Standard (PIS)” the clause in the agreement.

    “PIS means the generally accepted practices, methods, techniques and standard employed by the international multipurpose terminal industry in accordance with applicable law with respect to (a) the development, operation and maintenance of multipurpose terminals; (b) personnel and terminal safety and environmental protection and (c) optimising the performance of the operations.

    “The terminal operators are expected by the agreement to use their best efforts to develop market and promote cargo throughput and cargo-related business of the port in order to achieve maximum utilisation thereof in a manner which is consistent with the law and PIS and ensure there is no decline in the standard.’’

    He regretted that most of the terminals were stocked with old equipment inherited from the NPA, adding that most of the inherited buildings are dilapidated and occupying space that would have been converted to cargo delivery.

    The official lamented that the ports were still burdened by bureaucratic hitches, periodic technical blackouts and duplication of processes by government agencies.

    “In its quest to generate more revenue, the Federal Government, must always demand for accurate data on the quantity, types and weights of cargo handle in each of the terminals; accurate data on the number and types of ships, wagons or road trucks loaded or unloaded in each of the terminal; average ship turnaround time, cargo dwell time, truck loading and unloading time,” he said.

  • What I learnt from Amaechi, Peterside

    What I learnt from Amaechi, Peterside

    –Rivers Assembly’s only female member Victoria Nyeche

    The only female in the 32-member Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victoria Wobo Nyeche, an Ikwerre, who represents Port Harcourt Constituency One, is an alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt. She has Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. In this interview with BISI OLANIYI in Port Harcourt, the re-elected lawmaker states that her experience with her late father shaped her life a lot, among other issues. Excerpts:

     

    How did you start life?

    I was born into the family of Chief Loveday Wobo Nyeche and Mrs. Beatrice Nyeche of Elekahia in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State. I attended what used to be called State School, Elekahia, but now referred to as Community Primary School, Elekahia; Federal Government Girls’ College, Abuloma, Port Harcourt; University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

    At UNIPORT, I obtained Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. After my youth service, I worked for Schlumberger, an oil servicing company at Trans-Amadi Industrial Estate in Port Harcourt, for about four years. I then went to RSUST for Post-Graduate Diploma and Master’s in Chemical Engineering.

    I had Master’s in Environmental Engineering, an aspect of Chemical Engineering, in 2000 and went into private business, with the establishment of Awa Engineering Company Limited, with head office at Elekahia, close to Trans-Amadi.

    What does Awa mean?

    It is a pet name that my dad gave me.

    Were things rosy, with silver spoon in your mouth, while you were growing up?

    Silver spoon? I am from a middle-class family. I have a hardworking mother, a successful business woman. My father died in November 2010.

    What of those fond memories of your father?

    My experience with my dad shaped my life a lot. He believed in education, especially female/girl-child education, which was then not very common. He believed that you could be the best, if you made up your mind to be. It did not matter if you were a boy or a girl, unlike the average Ikwerre family, where the premium is on boys. My family is not one of such at all.

    My father brought us up in the fear of the Lord. He was a devout Anglican. He had eight children from only my mother, who is still alive, by God’s grace. We were four girls and four boys, but we lost one boy. I am the first girl. I have an elder brother.

    While at UNIPORT and RSUST, did you experience sexual harassment or sorting through gifts, money or sex?

    Then, sorting (appeasing lecturers) was not so rampant. Sexual harassment then was not what it is now. I did not have personal experience of sexual harassment or sorting. By the grace of God, I was doing well in my academics. In our time, the ladies that experienced sexual harassment were persons who usually went to lecturers to beg for one favour or another. When you make yourself available, you will become vulnerable to such things.

    In my time at the two universities, we hardly heard of lecturers sexually harassing students or if the female students did not sleep with them, they would not pass. What we heard then were cases of female students going to lecturers to solicit for assistance or beg for marks. When you go to beg, you will open yourself to be begged.

    Then, sorting was hardly mentioned. People used to have carryovers. We had somebody we used to call ‘highest bidder’, because out of eight courses, the person would have seven carryovers and repeat the examinations.

    Grades people got were the reflections of the efforts they put in. Even cult activities were hardly heard of. In my four years at UNIPORT, I cannot remember any serious cult clash. It was after I left that I started hearing of cult activities.

    What of your working career and how did you join politics?

    I continued with environmental engineering with Awa Engineering Company Limited, until I had the opportunity in 2003 to work with Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, the then Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in the administration of Dr. Peter Odili, as her Special Assistant. That’s actually where I met Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside (the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April 11, 2015 election in Rivers state), who was a Special Assistant to the Governor, Sir Peter Odili.

    There was a committee that the SSG was heading and sometimes, I would represent her and Dr. Peterside was a member of the committee. So we met and worked together. The committee was on renovation of secondary schools in Rivers State, one of the legacies of the administration of Dr. Peter Odili.

    Having worked with Dame Cookey-Gam, at the end of the tenure of Dr. Peter Odili, when Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (now Minister of Transportation) became Rivers Governor, I then worked with Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as Rivers State Commissioner for Works (before he moved to the House of Representatives in 2011) as his Technical Assistant in the Ministry of Works, until December 2010, when I resigned to contest in 2011, as a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Port Harcourt Constituency One and I was re-elected on April 11, 2015, by the grace of God Almighty. That was when the long and tortuous journey began.

    How will you describe the 2015 general elections in Rivers State and what is responsible for your tortuous journey to victory?

    On April 11, 2015, I had my agents in the seven wards that make up Port Harcourt constituency one. They had collected the copies of the units’ results from the units’ agents and even on their own, they had done collation. So, from the results they had collated and sent to my constituency ward agent, it was obvious that I had won the election. I had the highest score.

    The different agents went to their different collation centres and were waiting for the results to be collated. The results were successfully collated in my ward, which is ward19. The same for wards 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9, but the last ward, which is ward 11 at Rumuwoji, Port Harcourt, when they were doing the collation around 11 p.m., because the election ended between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with collation starting in different wards, about 11 p.m., they had finished the collation of the governorship results and as they were collating the House of Assembly results, some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts came in, at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, declaring that the collation would not be continued and lied that the generator would soon go off, claiming that the fenced premises, with gate, would no longer be safe.

    With the presence of policemen, they all decided to leave, but as they were leaving the place, they were supposed to be going to the constituency’s collation centre, which happened to be the Port Harcourt City Council secretariat, near Government House, but on their way, the PDP members diverted with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) collation officer and took off with the PDP agents. They did not appear until about 6 a.m. of the next day.

    When I got the information that they had absconded, I started making calls and we were told to report to the INEC’s constituency’s collation officer that they had run away with the results of ward 11, which we did. The mobile line of the INEC’s collation officer for ward 11 was immediately switched off.

    By the time the INEC’s collation officer for ward 11 arrived the Port Harcourt City Council secretariat at 6 a.m., he said they abandoned him. He was then told to let us continue with the collation, but said he had finished and that we should come and sign.

    When he brought out the sheets, the figures were different from what we had as units’ results from my agents. The INEC’s constituency collation officer told the electoral commission’s collation officer for ward 11 that he would not sign the results, wondering where he got his figures. Suddenly, PDP now had higher scores, than the scores that I had.

    From that 6 a.m., they kept arguing, going back and forth, till about 2 p.m. The INEC’s electoral officer said he had a call from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Rivers state, Gesila Khan, at the state office, that they should all come there. I followed them to INEC’s headquarters on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, but we were not allowed into the premises by soldiers and riot policemen. They just took the results in.

    The next day over the radio, INEC was announcing the PDP’s candidate, Jones Ogbonda, as the winner of the election. I admonished my constituents to be calm and asked the INEC’s officials to do what they ought to do.

    I had no choice but to approach the election petitions tribunal, sitting in Abuja, for justice and I briefed my lawyer, Barr. Ahamefula Eke Ejelam, SAN, of Principles Law Partnership, with chambers in Port Harcourt,

    I was confident that with all the results that we had and the preponderance of evidence, we were going to get justice, but for reasons best known to them, I did not get justice at the tribunal.

    I then approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which saw the merit in my case and agreed with me that Jones Ogbonda, the PDP’s candidate, was not validly elected, since he did not have the highest number of lawful votes cast and that INEC in Rivers state, headed by Gesila Khan, allocated votes to him, which he did not merit.

    Ogbonda’s election was annulled by the appellate court, which ordered that INEC should issue me certificate of return, as evidence of my having won the April 11, 2015 election. For me, December 23, 2015 was a special day for me. The judgment of the Court of Appeal was a glorious Christmas gift for me. I am so grateful to God.

    The spontaneous celebrations in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers state were impressive. To the glory of God Almighty, my election had caught the attention of the whole Rivers state.  Reporters from radio stations in Port Harcourt were at the Court of Appeal in Abuja and they were giving live updates as the judgment was being read. My victory at the appellate court was a return not a rerun.

    How did you feel when you got the final judgment from your contacts at the Court of Appeal in Abuja?

    I was overwhelmed. The first thing I did was to kneel down and I thanked God for the victory. The Lord vindicated me and He made it all worthwhile, because it was stressful. I was just happy and supporters started trooping to my house in Port Harcourt to celebrate with me and I felt the best thing I could do in the evening of December 23, 2015, shortly after the favourable judgment of the appellate court, was to go for a victory rally round my constituency. The crowd was so huge.

    The first place we moved to was ward 11, because so many APC members and supporters had gathered and were celebrating. We then moved to ward 3 in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt. It was the nightfall that stopped us. The judgment came around 5 p.m. and we were trekking round to celebrate with my constituents.

    When we got to my community, they were shooting cannons, which is symbolic and people were shocked, because traditionally they do not shoot cannons for women.

    December 23, 2015 was the second time my people were having gun salute for me. The first was when my people recognised me as Adaochiri (chieftaincy title, meaning first daughter of Rebisi – Ikwerre people’s name for Port Harcourt Kingdom), because according to them, I had represented them in a way that they had never been represented in the past. The people were saying the gun salute had never happened in the kingdom and they said I had done things that had never been done. So, they needed to do something that had never been done.

    How comfortable are you in the 32-member Rivers State House of Assembly, as the only female?

    There is no problem working with the men. My party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is the only party that fielded female House of Assembly members. Now that I have been returned, I am the only female member. I am looking forward to having my colleague, Hon. Irene Inimgba, of Port Harcourt constituency 2, join me. So that it will be the two of us. Hon. Inimgba is participating in next month’s rerun.

    Sadly, the number of women in the Rivers State House of Assembly is reducing. We used to be four women, then we were three and then it appears we will be two. That is not a good story for women’s advancement in politics.

    Why have you not joined other lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, based on the favourable judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja?

    INEC, as we speak, is yet to obey the court order and give me certificate of return, after over one month. Meanwhile, the law, especially the Electoral Act, is clear on it, that within 48 hours after an order by the final court, a certificate of return should be issued. INEC, under Gesila Khan, is yet to comply.

    My lawyer wrote to INEC at its headquarters in Abuja and also to the Port Harcourt office. The bailiffs have served INEC the court order. In the letters to INEC, we attached the court order and the proof of service. We have asked them to give us a time and date. No acknowledgment yet, much less carrying out the order of the court. We have not heard from INEC. It is more than a month that the judgment was delivered (on December 23, 2015). Nigerians will now know how independent INEC is.

    Besides writing letters, have you or your lawyer got across to the INEC headquarters in Abuja to know the situation of things?

    We were unofficially informed at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, through follow-up of the letters written, that the certificate of return was ready and that because it is a state election, the certificate of return must be handed over in Port Harcourt. We are waiting for INEC officials in Port Harcourt to pick it up in Abuja and come and hand it over.

    That will not stop me, because the crafters of our law, in their wisdom, have also provided that if INEC refuses or neglects to issue a certificate of return, that a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment is enough for me to be sworn in.

    My lawyer also wrote to the Rivers State House of Assembly, attaching the CTC, with the letter addressed to the Clerk of the House, who is in charge of administration and the Order of the House states that it is the Clerk that administers the oath, before the Speaker. We are waiting for them to get back to us..

    How did you survive the July 9, 2013 fracas in the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, when attempts were made to remove the then Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, and the then Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi?

    July 9, 2013, the date that we cannot forget. I and other APC lawmakers survived by God’s grace. I was on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It was one of the saddest days for me as a public servant, because I saw a rape of democracy, especially with attempt by five pro-Nyesom Wike legislators to have their way against 27 majority members of the House.

    I thank God that we were able to withstand the illegality and they failed in their attempt. We stood and defended the mandates given to us. We defended the voices of the voiceless Rivers people. We stood behind the government of the day and at the end of the day, we were vindicated, because we were able to serve out our tenure and democracy was preserved in Rivers state.

    The breakdown of law and order as well as anarchy, which they anticipated, they did not have it in the form that they planned.

    How will you assess the roles played in the fracas by Mbu Joseph Mbu, the then Rivers State Commissioner of Police?

    Mbu Joseph Mbu is everything that a policeman should not be, because the duty of the police is to protect lives and property. Mbu could not protect the 32 members of the Rivers House of Assembly to perform their duties.

    Mbu failed in his duty of protection of lives and property. Instead, he allowed himself to become partisan. He became the administrator of Rivers state, when we had a sitting governor. Mbu was taking instructions from Abuja and Nyesom Wike.

    This brings me to the issue of state police, which some people thought could be abused, but that is not true. The table has turned today. With the government in Rivers state, the Federal Government of the APC has not paid them back in their coin.

    Rt. Hon. Amaechi, as the Minister of Transportation, is not giving instructions to the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, like Wike was doing then, as the Minister of State for Education.

    Wherever Mbu is now, he will not be proud of his actions in Rivers state, which should serve as a lesson to people who occupy offices and think that they are God. The only thing that is constant in life is change. People should not play God, because at the end of the day, we will give account of the things that we have done, not just before God, but even before our people.

    What is responsible for the violence witnessed in Rivers State before, during and after the 2015 general elections?

    The violence witnessed was because a lot of illegal arms and ammunition were in the custody of the youth and some desperate politicians, in a bid to get into office at all costs. Many persons were injured, maimed and killed. Some people were beheaded, while some persons had stones on their necks and drowned in Rivers state. The power that you get at the expense of people’s lives cannot give you joy.

    Things that happened in most parts of Rivers state during the 2015 general elections in Rivers state do not qualify for free, fair and credible elections. We did not generally have substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, which made the tribunals and the Courts of Appeal in Abuja to upturn almost all the “victories” by candidates of the PDP, with reruns being prepared for.

    Never again shall we have the Rivers of blood that we had during the 2015 general election. This state is referred to as the Rivers of possibilities. We need positive changes, not violence, unrest or rigging. We want to be part of a peaceful and progressive state.

    Do you support the calls for the arrest and prosecution of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for corruption allegations?

    Government should be of laws. If there is evidence of corruption against former President Goodluck Jonathan, the law enforcement and anti-graft agencies should do their job, because we really need to do things right.

    Many things have gone so wrong in Nigeria that if they are not corrected now, we may not have hope for tomorrow. Anybody that is corrupt should be made to face the law, so that people will learn and know that when we are in public offices, we are holding trust for the people.

    Are Nigerians experiencing the change promised by the APC?

    We are now experiencing change in Nigeria. We are seeing the determination by President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders to make a change in Nigeria, but we must realise that Rome was not built in a day. It will be a gradual process. Let us continue to support the government.

    Are you comfortable with the massive defection of PDP members into APC now and are the persons involved principled politicians?

    When people change, they must have seen the light. If people are defecting from other political parties to my party, the APC, it is a good development and we will always welcome them. I hope they will stay in APC.

    You are very close to ex-Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and you have just said that Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside is you political mentor and leader. What have you learnt from them?

    I have learnt from both of them, faith in God. Rt. Hon. Amaechi is always saying that his victories have come from God, with God as his strength, which is actually the meaning of his name, Chibuike. I have also learnt to rely on God.

    Both Rt. Hon. Amaechi and Dr. Peterside are very committed and they always put the people first in whatever they do. Ex-governor Amaechi put Rivers people first. That is why the developmental strides in Rivers state have been unequalled in the history of the state, considering the period that he governed. He fought many political battles, yet he did not allow development to suffer.

    I have also learnt to be courageous, because both Rt. Hon. Amaechi and Dr. Peterside are men of courage and will speak their minds, no matter whose ox is gored. They believe in truth, hard work and that anything worth doing is worth doing well. They have faith in God.

    It is good to always stand for something and not just be part of the crowd, but stand out and be the best that you can be. Rt. Hon. Amaechi and Dr. Peterside are loved by the people and can walk the streets without being harassed or molested, but hailed by the appreciative people. Most of the people fighting ex-governor Amaechi, their histories cannot be written without mentioning Rt. Hon. Amaechi.

    What message do you have for people of your constituency and others?

    They should fear God. When you fear God, it shows in everything that you do. Better days are ahead. My constituents should expect better representation, but I cannot do it alone. Greater together. Let them continue to support APC for positive change.

  • Why Amaechi hosted Soyinka, by Semenitari

    Why Amaechi hosted Soyinka, by Semenitari

    A former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has explained why the Rotimi Amaechi administration hosted  Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka to a birthday dinner.

    Mrs Semenitari, now Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, through her Special Assistant (Media), Bekee Anyalewechi.

    The ex-commissioner noted that the decision to honour Soyinka had a link with his role in the naming of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book Capital City 2014.

    Mrs. Semenitari’s successor, Dr. Austin Tam-George, alleged that N82 million was wasted on hosting the Nobel laureate, threatening that the Nyesom Wike  administration would involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the expenditure.

    Mrs Semenitari said: “N82 million was not spent on the dinner alone, as Tam-George, PDP and their cohorts would want the world to believe. We challenge him (Tam-George) to release the entire documents as contained in Mrs. Ibim Semenitari’s memo, reference: MOI/COM/C./82/Vol. III/227 to cover dance drama by University of Port Harcourt Arts Village, Great Singha and his highlife band; set design, stage lighting and costume design, costume design and stage property, dinner, transportation and accommodation of guests from outside the country and those outside Rivers State, decoration, travels and logistics, among others.

    “Unfortunately and to show the sinister intent of the whole issue, to which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had also shown undue excitement, references were made to Prof. Soyinka as a ‘friend of Amaechi,’ without putting in context what necessitated the honour for the Nobel laureate, by the then Rivers State Government.

    “While the whole claim is nothing but bare-faced lies, deliberately hatched to smear the literary scholar (Prof. Soyinka) and the Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, it is a shame that officials of the Rivers State Government would indulge in this kind of gimmick, just to settle petty scores. We feel particularly sorry that Tam-George, barely a week in office, has manifested such gross incompetence in the procedures of his office, as spokesman of government.

    “Nothing can be more callous than the imputation that the dinner was because Prof. Soyinka ‘is a friend of Amaechi.’ Having turned down several other overtures for an open honour to his enormous contributions to the growth of the literary industry in Rivers State, it was a decision of the State Executive Council to celebrate a man who had been a strong voice in the birth of Garden City Literary Festival (later Port Harcourt Literary Festival), which catapulted the state to a global player in the arts.”

    Mrs Semenitari also stated that rather than face his  job to see whether he could help reposition an administration that was fast losing credibility in the eyes of civilised people in Rivers State, Tam-George would prefer to smear the exalted reputation of Prof. Soyinka.

    She added: “We can forgive Tam-George’s attempts to smear the reputation and hard work of Mrs. Semenitari, who meritoriously served Rivers State for six years, since he must be suffering from a serious complex, but to drag the name of Prof. Soyinka into their coven of inferiority is beyond the pale.

    “We state unequivocally that if the media invitation to anti-crime agencies to probe Semenitari was on the expenditure of the N82 million, her doors are open any day, any time to welcome them.”

    Mrs. Semenitari also stated that she remained focused in her duty in NDDC and would not be distracted.

     

  • Day Amaechi turned train conductor

    Day Amaechi turned train conductor

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi turned a train conductor in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital last week. This was hours after he had been welcomed by a huge crowd during his first official engagement in the state which he ruled for about eight years.

    Amaechi, a former Rivers Governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Assembly, was in Port Harcourt for the inauguration of Port Harcourt-Aba (in Abia State) Mass Transit Train Service at the Port Harcourt Station of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Policemen, especially of the traffic department, had it so tough on Wednesday, December 16, sweating profusely in the scorching sun, in their attempts to control the traffic, which was at a standstill for some hours.

    Most of the teeming associates of Amaechi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and an ex-Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of Nigerian Houses of Assembly, as well as reporters had to alight and parked their cars in safe places and trekked long distances to the railway terminus at the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town.

    The former Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation also had a hectic time, before getting to the NRC’s office.

    The kick-off was fixed for 10 a.m., but the minister of transportation and members of his entourage could not get to the venue until 11:55 a.m.

    Immediately after inaugurating the fully-air-conditioned train, with executive seats, the ex-chairman of NGF decided to ride it to Aba, with the other coaches occupied by his associates, admirers and top government officials.

    By the time the event was rounded off, it became a Herculean task to control the surging crowd, making the transportation minister to become emergency conductor, as he stood by the door checking in some persons and had to apologise to many others, for not being able to make the historic journey.

    Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also played the role of an official of NRC, by holding a flag and standing by the side of the train, to direct passersby and motorists on the railway.

    Most people who saw Amaechi with the flag were eager that the mass transit train service should quickly commence, thereby putting an end to the horrible traffic on the deplorable Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu expressway, which now has craters at the middle of the federal road.

    The historic inauguration was also attended by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation; Alhaji Sabiyu Zakari, and the Managing Director of NRC, Adeseyi Sijuwade.

    Also in attendance were retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte; a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Nimi Briggs; eminent monarchs from Rivers and Abia states; ex-Rivers commissioners and Wike’s former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, who recently resigned, among others.

    Amaechi, in his address, assured that the Federal Government would take a position on the Port Harcourt International Airport, ranked as the worst in the world, as soon as possible.

    He also gave an assurance that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s would revive the railway sub-sector.

    Amaechi said: “I want to say to the Governor of Abia State that there is no political party in development. Just like we say, naira has no colour. So, there is no PDP, no APC. If your governor is ready to contribute to mass transit in Aba and Abia, we are ready to work with him.

    “It is with great delight and humility that myself and the Minister of State for Aviation welcome you to this landmark event of formal flag-off of the Port Harcourt -Aba Mass Transit Train Service by the NRC, which marks another milestone in the development of railway system in Nigeria.

    “I am delighted to note that as part of the ongoing efforts and commitment of the Federal Government to provide safe and affordable means of mass transportation in the country, the NRC has completed the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Aba rail line, being segment of the narrow guage Eastern rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, and the line is ready for commissioning and commence operations.

    “This administration’s plan is to revive the railway sub-sector and achieve a Nigerian railway system that is modern, safe and affordable, and could serve as a vehicle for the delivery of sustainable economic growth, social harmony and political stability. The trains will run between Port Harcourt and Aba, with stops at key locations along this important corridors. Without doubt, the services will enhance significantly, commercial activities and foster integration among the people of Rivers and Abia States.

    “I have the pleasure to inform you that the Federal Government, through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, is planning the remodelling and the redevelopment of our major railway stations within the country. Under the rail modernisation programme, government will open new railway lines to achieve an efficient rail network.”

    In an interview with reporters in Port Harcourt, Amaechi expressed optimism that Nigerians would continue to experience change, especially in the transportation sector.

    On the number of jobs the project would create for people in the Southsouth and Southeast zones of Nigeria, the minister of transportation stated that it was not the direct jobs that were important.

    He said as soon as the train commenced operation, the indirect jobs were by far more important, stressing that people would start getting services and there would be activities, as the train would be stopping in every station, with many people hawking one thing or another.

    Amaechi assured that the informal economic activities would blossom the economy of the country, especially the economy between Port Harcourt and Aba.

    The transportation minister disclosed that there would be a new rail line that would pass through Port Harcourt, noting that the Nigerian government was going to do basically two and the seven would be done with private investors.

    The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, in his remarks, noted that the Port Harcourt-Aba mass transit train service was part of the remarkable success stories of the Buhari’s administration.

    The king and paramount ruler of Port Harcourt, His Majesty Eze Victor Woluchem, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, stated that the railway and trains that were moribund had now come back to life, just a few weeks after the inauguration of Amaechi as transportation minister.

    The managing director of the NRC stated that since the inception of Port Harcourt railway station in 1912, so many passenger and cargo trains had traversed the rail network.

    He reiterated that sequel to the substantial progress on the rehabilitation of the existing narrow-gauge network of Eastern Rail Line, traversing Port Harcourt to Gombe, the NRC, earlier this year, commenced inter-city train service from Port Harcourt to Kano and Port Harcourt to Gombe.

    Sijuwade noted that the kick-off was the first time of establishing a mass transit train service between Port Harcourt and Aba, reiterating that Rivers state is the home of oil and gas, as well as a commercial nerve centre.

    NRC’s managing director disclosed that the train has 68-seater air-conditioned modern passenger coaches, together with standard class coaches, stressing that the train would always run four trips daily from Monday to Saturday and would depart Aba at 5 a.m. and get to Port Harcourt at 7:15 a.m. and return, while the second train would leave Aba at 3 p.m.

    Sijuwade said: “Movement relating to business transaction within the Ariaria International Market in Aba and other markets like Oil Mills, Mile One, School Road and Diobu Markets in Port Harcourt are done mostly by road.

    “In both cities (Port Harcourt and Aba), booming shopping centres and new markets, where fabric materials, plastics and motor parts are sold, are not fully patronised, due to bad roads between Aba and Port Harcourt.

    “Port Harcourt is renowned for being the homestead of petroleum and gas industries and a commercial nerve centre of the Southsouth, showcasing full-scale inter-modal trades, with the presence of an international airport, inland container depots, seaports and petroleum produce facility bases. The associated business activities undoubtedly require the mass movement of people by rail.”

    Sijuwade added that the train service would surely reduce congestion on Port Harcourt-Aba expressway, while business activities would be enhanced, assuring that production capacity in all facets of the economy would operate at optimal levels.

  • National transportation master plan coming, says Amaechi

    National transportation master plan coming, says Amaechi

    THE Federal Government is developing a national transportation master plan  to diversify the economy and improve on non-oil sector revenues, the Minister of Transportation,  Chibuike Amaechi, said yesterday.

    Amaechi, who spoke yesterday at a briefing after a tour of facilities at the Lagos airport, said the master plan would reduce unemployment and develop the rural economy.

    He added that the government was determined to fully exploit the potentials of the transport sector by opening it up for new investment.

    The minister said if properly repositioned, the sector holds the key to unlocking the country’s economic potentials.

    Amaechi identified the sector’s problems as including bad roads, inadequate fleet, airplane services and congested ports .

    He said: “The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is in the process of developing a national transportation master plan that will be implemented as a fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to diversify the national economy while improving non-oil revenues.

    “While reducing dependence on oil revenues, it will also develop the rural economy, reduce unemployment and urban drift.

    “The problems of Nigerian transport system include bad roads, inadequate fleet of buses and trucks; irregular and inadequate trains and airplanes services and congested ports.”

    The minister also mentioned dearth of suitably trained transport managers and planners, capital restructuring bottlenecks, serious issues of institutional reforms and ineffective traffic regulations.

    “The Buhari administration is determined to fully exploit the potentials in the transportation sector. As a first step, the government will pursue the enactment of legislation that will open up the sector to new investments that will lead to economic prosperity,” he said.

    Amaechi also revealed plans to re-introduce rail lines that would assist in the movement of petroleum products by next year.

    He said investment in rail transportation could generate over 250,000 direct jobs .

    The minister said: “The movement of petroleum products by rail will be re-introduced in 2016. As you are aware, we have commenced and almost completed the narrow gauge rehabilitation which will be retained for the movement of cargoes.

    “At the same time, massive investment into the standard gauge to link most parts of the country with faster trains for passenger movements has begun. In 2016, we hope to complete work on the Abuja-Kaduna railway line as Mr. President is highly committed to it. Work will start in earnest on the standard gauge on many routes .”

    On aviation, Amaechi said safety would not be negotiable, as he identified the challenges of the sector to including weak airlines and decaying infrastructure .

    He said: “The ministry of transportation in collaboration with relevant parastatals and agencies has drawn up short term plans that are currently being implemented, of which the travelling public will take notice of the improvements in the not distant future.

    “These plans include the expeditious completion of ongoing airports remodeling projects at Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and the decongestion of airports access roads among several others. The new terminal in Lagos will generate additional 15 million passengers annually, making a total of 30 million passengers yearly nationwide.

    “The medium and long term plans will require significant investments to upgrade and expand infrastructure to meet current and future requirements.

    “As a result of limited resources for capital projects development, government is exploring the possibility of private sector participation to towards the realisation of the industries’ potentials.

    “The Ministerial Committee on the National Airline has submitted its report to the President, which the government is studying carefully and will announce its decision in due course.

    “In June of this year, Nigeria scored 96.44 per cent during the International Civil Aviation Security Audit. Despite this feat, the nation can ill afford to let its guards down considering recent events in the international scene, where passenger airplanes have been blown out of the skies.

    “Subsequently in accordance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and International Aviation Organisation (ICAO) annex 17, the Federal Government is looking to overhaul and streamline the security apparatus at the nation’s airports for a seamless and more effective security surveillance and enforcement. This will also improve facilitation and passengers’ experience.”

  • Amaechi orders financial, staff audit of NIMASA

    Amaechi orders financial, staff audit of NIMASA

    •Ministry seeks explanation on N100b subvention

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi  has directed immediate financial and staff audit of the Nigerian Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The minister spoke yesterday during his maiden tour of Lagos ports and a stop-over at NIMASA Resource Centre, Kirikiri.

    Amaechi also directed the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Haruna Jauro, to forward details of contracts awarded by the agency for verification.

    The former Rivers governor demanded a detailed financial report of the agency since its inception

    “Over N100 billion is given to this agency yearly and I am yet to see how it has been spent. I am yet to see some of the projects being executed by this agency,” Amaechi said.

    The minister also requested for the staff nominal roll and details of staff employed by the agency and their qualifications.

    He instructed the acting director-general to forward the staff nominal roll of the agency to the Federal Ministry of Transportation to know if there were vacancies to be filled.

    Amaechi expressed dissatisfaction with the ill-equipped clinic laboratory at the NIMASA Resource Centre.

    “From my inspection so far, I discovered that the Search and Rescue clinic is not equipped; the canteen is in deteriorated condition; the chairs are not okay and the place is leaking,’’ the minster said.

    Amaechi also directed the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to work toward achieving 48 hours cargo clearance target when he visited the headquarters of the agency in Lagos.

    He said he had promised President Muhammadu Buhari that he would ensure  the ports achieve 48 hours cargo clearance target.

    “Other countries operating maritime industry are achieving 48 hours cargo clearance, so Nigeria is not an exemption.

    “I believe in transparency and hard work. We should endeavour to do what people are expecting us to do.

    “I will inform the public about the activities of the maritime industry to make sure you do what people will like to know,’’ the minister said.

    NPA Managing Director Malam Habib Abdullahi said the agency had made tremendous efforts in the last three years in managing the affairs of the ports.