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Tag: Minister of Transportation

  • Lagos -Ibadan expressway to be ready before end of 2018 – Minister

    The Lagos-Ibadan expressway will be substantially ready for commuters before the end of the year, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.

    The Minister made the disclosure Wednesday while inspecting the N232 billion road project been handled by Julius Berger PLC and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), as part of the nationwide tour of the Federal Government infrastructural projects.

    The minister kicked start the inspection of government projects on Tuesday alongside the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, with an inspection of the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line.

    The 137 kilometer Lagos-Ibadan expressway is divided into two sections, with Julius Berger Plc handling the section one of the project worth N134 billion, which covers the Lagos-Shagamu interchange while RCC covers from the Shagamu Interchange to Ibadan worth N96 billion.

    The project which commenced in 2013, with initial completion date of 2017 now has 2018 completion date as a result of the initial hiccups and also the increase in scope of work.

    In both axis of the project, over 50 per cent completion have been achieved, something the minister said was worth commending as it has helped to ease traffic on the very busy road.

    Already, 17 kilometer of the Lagos-Shagamu road with three lanes on each side have been completed. While drainage work is ongoing.

    Speaking after the inspection of the road project, the minister noted that government will continue to mount pressure on the contractors to ensure that they deliver in good time because of the economic and security importance of the road to the country.

    He further assured the contractors that the government will on its part do everything possible to ensure smooth and timely completion of the project, while at the same time charging them on the need to maintain standard and do a thorough job.

    He said: “Both section one and two will be substantially completed before the end of the year.

    “Give and take about 53% of the projects have been completed.

    “We understand the importance of the axis to the economy and security of Nigeria.

    We are working to ensure rapid progress is made.

    “This particular section is significant and different in many instance,  in terms of traffic and capacity and scope. There are many of the churches around here and the issue of compensation, bridges and interchange, pedestrian bridges.

    “No doubt with the efforts of the contractors, travel time from Lagos to Ibadan has been cut down tremendously. People use to sleep on the road before but now you can go to Ibadan under two hours. Accident rate has also reduced tremendously and with the new amendment to the contract, more facilities such as toll plaza better drainage, flyovers.

    “Travel time has been reduced tremendously. People now travel with more comfort and even more security assurance. Armed robbery are easier when traffic are not moving, but when you see flowing traffic as we have seen today, it also improve security.

    And with the additional work, not only are we going to have the road better, it is going to go from two to three lanes on both sides, that means it can carry more traffic. Then the auxiliary facilities that have been included like toll plaza, street lights and overhead bridges will make traveling a much more pleasant journey, which is exactly the objective but most importantly, it is the economy.”

    The minister further explained that 70% of the burden of the traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is on the Lagos-Shagamu axis of the road, which explained why it has three lanes on each side as against the Shagamu-Ibadan two lanes on each side.

    He was also able to extract commitment from the contractors on timely completion of the project before the end of the year, while at the same time assuring them that the federal government will do the needful to ensure they deliver at the right time.

    Read Also: FEC approves additional N80b for Lagos-Ibadan road

  • FG saves N4.5 trillion from high profile cases 

    FG saves N4.5 trillion from high profile cases 

    The Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that it has saved over N4.5 trillion from high profile cases prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice between 2015 and 2017.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami briefed State House correspondents at the end of about seven hours Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello.

    According to Malami, his Ministry presented its score card to Council in the last two and a half years.

    He said “In respect of Federal Ministry of Justice what was presented to the Council today is the score card from 2015 to 2017

    “We presented a score card as to cases both civil, criminal that were prosecuted by the Federal Ministry of Justice and their implications as to savings that were done for the government commencing from 2015 to the present time.

    “Fundamentally arising from the cases that were conducted by the Federal ministry of Justice, the Ministry has succeeded in saving the government around N4.5 trillion relating to the claims that were presented in respect of these cases which were indeed conducted and concluded.” he

    Continuing, the Minister said “The Federal Government has put in place a committee saddled with the responsibilities of coming up with policies and strategies that will ease off congestion of prisons.

    “Over 70 percent of the inmates are awaiting trials there are sizeable number that couldn’t afford to pay limited fine that have been imposed by them arriving from their convictions.

    “There are those awaiting trials that have never seen the court room for over five years and above and indeed there are multiple legislation that are before the national assembly that are intended to support the decongestion of prison formation process.” he said

    He said that another area the Ministry presented its score card was the ongoing prosecution of Boko Haram cases.

    On Boko Haram suspected terrorists ongoing trial, he said that the total number of convictions so far is 255 and those discharged is 737.

    He said “We presented a position as to the number of cases that were prosecuted, number of convictions that were procured and the number of discharges that were made relating to the cases and then made a presentation as to the road maps for the continuation of the process.

    “There were other presentations that were made particularly as it relates to plea bargain. There are a lot of pending criminal cases in respect of the accused persons standing trials, who made offers for plea bargain.

    “Again there are high profile cases that we made our score card and gave an insight as to their respective positions.

    “A presentation was made relating to national prosecution team as it relates to the cases they are expected to prosecute.” he said

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi also disclosed that FEC has approved the construction of the  Ibadan – Kaduna rail lines at the cost of $6.7 billion.

    The project, he said, is expected to be completed in three years.

    According to him, the contract for the Kaduna to Kano aspect of the rail line was awarded last year.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, also briefed on the progress made based on the recently approved executive order, the national strategy for competitiveness and the entire science and technology innovation road map.

    As part of the score card of the Ministry in the past two and half years, he presented new biscuits being produced in conjunction with Nasco Food.

    He said “High nutrient density products developed and proposed for inclusion in the current Nigerian School Feeding program will provide at least a third of the desired major macro and micro nutrients requirement stipulated by the World Health organization, Food and Nutrition Board.

    “Additionally, the products will be produced by NASCO Foods Limited, Jos that have state-of-the-art processing equipment with vast experience in Food processing, Food Safety and quality for production and supply chain nationwide.

    “The developed nutritious products have been tested using Nasco Food processing facilities in Jos and have been found to be technically and economically viable.

    “The pupils in the schools in Jos and Lagos where the sensory evaluation and consumer acceptability studies were done showed strong likeness for the products and are ready to consume the products if including in the school feeding program.” he said

    On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said that the major projects which were rolled out by his ministry, including the citizens diplomacy program, desk to desk review initiatives and the economic diplomacy innovation, are recording successes.

    He also gave score card of his Ministry in the past two and half years to the Council.

    He listed the special interventions by the Buhari’s administration for the ministry, foreign missions and embassies to include N16.3 billion, N933 million, N7 billion, $32 million and $28 million.

    According to him, all the interventions were made as the President decided that he would not entertain sending Nigerians abroad without the necessary funding.

    He said “Special intervention fund to rescue many embassies in several countries of the world. First was in 2016 when the Naira was fluctuating terribly and of course the dollars to our embassies were too low to sustain them.

    “We received initially N16.3 billion, and was successfully distributed to all embassies. The second one was N933 million for renovations and other debts released in October, 2017.

    “The third was $32 million that were released for critically distressed 65 missions that were in serious debts and crisis. This was approved in November 2017 and we are in the process of distributing to the embassies around the world another one, $28 million and is the process of also being distributed and finally for ministry headquarters, the sum of N7 billion was made.” he said

    He added “A lot of the debts and the crisis in our embassies and missions around the world have been building over the last 10 years and Mr. President decided that he will no longer accept the situation where we are sending Nigerians out to represent this country and not given them the resources to be able to carry out their tasks. Hence he made provisions and directed that these funds should be released to them.

    “So the situation is still not perfect but this has come in very handily and of course in the interest of transparency we wanted to show how these funds had been disbursed.” he stated

    The Minister of FCT disclosed that FEC approved N1.9 billion for road reconstruction of Clinton Drive and N273 million for water treatment chemicals.

    Read Also: Tracking high-profile corruption cases

  • Quest for change made me team up with Buhari – Amaechi

    Quest for change made me team up with Buhari – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, says that his pursuit for change made him to leave his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), to join the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Amaechi made the disclosure on the sidelines of the Future Awards Africa held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.

    He said that he would have done otherwise by staying in PDP and fight for the change, instead, there was a need to cross over to APC because of his belief in President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “I moved from PDP to APC because I am tired of what is happening in the party, I have the option to stay because of my position as the Chairman of the Governors then.

    “I can use my position to fight them (PDP) and get what I want because I believe Nigeria was not going in the right direction by then.

    “My attention and belief shifted to Buhari which was the viable alternative, I believe in the change mantra because it is the only way to improve on what is on ground.

    Read also: How APC can win 2019 elections – Amaechi

    “He has not disappointed because the economy is now back on track and is growing. This is evident in the current prices of food items because it’s getting lower,’’ he said.

    Amaechi said that prices of food would further crash because of the efforts of the government at making the country self-sufficient in food production.

    “With the change going on, the price will further crash because before this government came in, the price were soaring because we were importing food items, things we can grow here.

    “Now the policy of government which banned the importation of rice is working, the price is now about N16,000, but before now,  we are importing about N3 billion worth of rice.

    “Before now too, we were importing another N3 billion worth of poultry products, we are importing tomatoes but with the ban, we are now concentrating on our local production.

    “Many states in the northern part of the country are now growing rice in large quantities though by right, the South-South geo-political zone should be doing that because they are the ones in the swampy area,’’ he said.

    Amaechi said that the wastage in the PDP era was alarming, adding that the depletion of the excess crude account was supposed not have been.

    “When Obasanjo was leaving, he left about 65 billion dollars in the Excess Crude Account, but this money was frittered away and we wonder where the money is.

    “As at then, the price of crude oil during the president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration hovered around 140 dollars with this, they did not leave anything for the incoming government.

    “With that kind of money, we should be thinking of connecting Nigeria through rail system. The rail between Ibadan to Kano would have been completed.

    “Also the rail gauge between Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and Lagos to Calabar, but all the excess crude money was frittered away, we need to ask questions,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Youths not copying right leadership model – Amaechi

    Youths not copying right leadership model – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, says Nigeria youths are copying the wrong model of leadership, an act, he notes, may jeopardise their future.

    Amaechi made the assertion on the sidelines of the Future Awards Africa held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.

    He said the youth were not ready yet to embrace a corrupt-free society because they were wrongly orientated by those who were using them for their interest.

    “The problem with Nigerian youths is that they just want to take over from the elite but they are not ready to embrace change, they don’t want reform.

    “They say that the roles being played by the elite are not satisfactory, but they must be ready to upset the leaders of this country through their ingenuity.

    “For example, during our days of activism, we engage government over unfavourable policies and we get headlong even during the military administration.

    “Now, student union presidents want a vehicle and a driver to be driving him about to attend meetings; during our time, who dares have a car, we all struggle on the street, Amaechi said.

    He advised youths to rise up to the fight against corruption instead of a tacit support to those that they feel were their benefactor.

    “I will advise the youth to fight against corruption with all their energy instead of giving tacit support to those they think are their benefactors.

    “During our time in the student union struggles, we rose against impunity and organised protests; but what happens today, the government of the day announces the money siphoned but the youth keep quiet.

    “Such astronomic stolen amount government announced wouldn’t have happened during our time, all the street would have been filled with youths protesting and seeing that the culprits were punished.

    “Today, we have some of our youths dancing behind the corrupt politicians for a pot of meal that will not last long thereby mortgaging their future,’’ he said.

    Amaechi said that Nigerian youths should stand up to the reality of life by asking questions from leaders on how they managed the economy and the commonwealth of Nigeria.

    Read also: Amaechi: we should stop criticising Jonathan’s govt

    “Nigerian youths should start asking questions from leaders, including me about what we are doing with our resources. It’s time to reject those that put us in this.

    “We should all desist from pulling our country down through corruption. But unfortunately, the youth are not interested in that, all what they want is how to look good.

    “Maybe they looked at me wearing designer shoes, what they will notice is that designer and how they can get it. That is not supposed to be.

    “During my time as a student union leader, I had only two pairs of clothes. But now the value system is wrong and the youth are copying wrong leadership model,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Stop criticizing GEJ’s administration – Amaechi

    Stop criticizing GEJ’s administration – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said he agrees with those who said the present administration should focus on achieving its campaign promises and stop criticizing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The minister disclosed this in Abuja when the report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Finalization of the Draft National Transport Policy (NTP) was submitted to him.

    The I9-member Committee was drawn from all the transport sectors and agencies in the country.

    The Minister also said there was need to invest more in the technological aspect of transportation.

    He said: “I agree with those who said we should stop criticizing the last government and that we should do our own.

    “We need to leverage on what we know. People are shouting intermodal transport; I went to the new airport in Singapore and I didn’t find one person at the airport. As you walk in, technology takes over.

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

    “We should see how much investment we can put in the area of ICT. Intelligence transportation should not be ignored”.

    He added: “What we assure Nigerians is that under the Buhari administration; we would do everything possible to ensure that we maximize the resources that President by way of budget releases to each ministry”.

    On the implementation of the policy, he said: “I assure you that we would take the next step you want us to take.

    “Usually, people take experts contribution for granted but the fact is, experts know better and if we don’t come to you, who would we go to?

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

    Also speaking, the chairperson of the Committee, Mfon Usoro explained that the adoption of the policy would make Nigerian economy stronger.

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

  • Abuja-Kaduna rail: FG to inaugurate 10 new coaches, two locomotives – minister

    Abuja-Kaduna rail: FG to inaugurate 10 new coaches, two locomotives – minister

    Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi says the Federal Government will inaugurate 10 new coaches and two locomotives for the Abuja-Kaduna rail service on Dec. 10.

    Amaechi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday while highlighting his achievements to mark his two years in office.

    The minister recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had told the National Assembly that the new coaches would arrive in November.

    According to him, every arrangement has been made to make it feasible.
    “The President has already announced to the National Assembly that on the 10th of December, he will inaugurate 10 coaches and two locomotives which are in the budget.

    “This means that the 10 coaches and two locomotives must arrive in Abuja for commissioning, one locomotive will be used for daily drop-off at the stations, while the second locomotive will be an express train from Abuja to Kaduna,’’ he said.

    Amaechi said that in a space of two years, the ministry had so many projects running with some remarkable achievements in the maritime and rail sub-sector.

    He said that within this period, Abuja-Kaduna rail line was completed, adding that work was ongoing at the Lagos-Ibadan rail alongside construction and rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge.

    The minister said that by 2018, most of the ongoing rail projects would be completed, adding that the President had also approved the Lagos-Calabar rail line.

    According to him, all the states will be connected by rail, as our vision for Nigeria is to continue to construct railway in the next 10 to 15 years.

    NAN recalls that the train service was inaugurated by Buhari on July 26, 2016, in Abuja with four coaches.

    The additional 10 coaches and two locomotives expected to arrive on Nov. 23, in Lagos will ease the plight of passengers on that route.

  • BREAKING: Amaechi, Wike’s fight get messier

    BREAKING: Amaechi, Wike’s fight get messier

    The fight between the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has got messier, with the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) supported with purpose-built office complex in Port Harcourt, when Amaechi was governor, suddenly given quit notice by officials of Wike’s local government council.

    The quit notice came from Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of Rivers state, where Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, hails from, through the council’s Legal Adviser, Victor Owhonda Wokem.

    Wike, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and most leaders of the PDP decided to declare war against the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers state, Akin Fakorede, a lawyer, for allegedly refusing to support the plans of the PDP during the December 10 last year’s legislative rerun.

    Fakorede, who hails from Ekiti State, in a telephone interview, however, declared that the security outfit would never vacate the facility given to it by Amaechi’s govt on August 23, 2012, asking officials of the local government council to desist from making false claims.

    While also speaking on the telephone on Friday, the Caretaker Chairman of Obio/Akpor local government council, Goodnews Ozioma Amadi, a member of PDP, who was recently appointed by Wike for three months, with the possibility of being reappointed for another three months, if she performs optimally, in her reaction, said: “It is a legal matter. It is being handled by the council’s Legal Adviser.”

    The Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone, in Port Harcourt, said: “Of course, this is one of the clearest evidence of the war of attrition being waged by Wike and his government against the F-SARS in Rivers State. It is a development foretold by discerning minds.”

    Rivers APC also claimed that Wike was fighting F-SARS in the state and Fakorede, because of 2019 elections and the governor’s vice-presidential ambition in 2019, with the state’s commander of F-SARS having earlier allegedly refused to be bribed to support the massive rigging of the December 10 last year’s legislative rerun in Rivers.

    The quit notice from Obio/Akpor local government council, located in Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt, and the reply of F-SARS, both on their colourful letterheads, were obtained on Friday in Port Harcourt.

    The quit notice was dated October 18, 2017, signed by the local government council’s legal adviser, was addressed to the commander of F-SARS, Sir Celestine Omehia Road, Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State, and titled: “Notice to Vacate and Deliver up Possession of the Property/Premises You Occupy Inside the Obio/Akpor International Market, Rukpokwu Town, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State.”

    Wokem (LG legal adviser) said: “I am directed by the Local Government Council to give you one month notice to vacate and deliver up possession of the premises/property of the Obio/Akpor International Market, which you presently occupy, as a licensee thereof, on or before 30th day of November 2017.

    “This directive is borne out of the council’s need to carry out major renovation works at the international market and to put the said property, which you occupy, into full use and purpose for which it was originally acquired and built.

    “Take further notice that in the event you fail, refuse or neglect to abide by this notice, the council shall have no option, but to use all available legal means to eject you therefrom and demand consequential damages. Please, be guided accordingly.”

    Copies of the Obio/Akpor local government’s quit notice were sent to Wike; the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed.

    The quit notice, which was received by F-SARS, Rivers state on October 19, 2017, was stamped and signed by one of the officials of the security outfit, without the name indicated.

    F-SARS, Rivers state, in its reply, dated October 19, 2017, and signed by its commander (Fakorede), a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), accused the officials of Obio/Akpor local government council of being economical with the truth.

    The F-SARS’ response had copies sent to Rivers Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Port Harcourt and the Officer in Charge (O/C) Legal, State CID, Port Harcourt.

    F-SARS said: “I refer to your letter dated October 18, 2017 on the above subject matter and wish to respectfully inform your good office that the Rivers State F-SARS is not in possession or occupation of any premises/property of Obio/Akpor Local Government.

    “For the purpose of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, the F-SARS is presently occupying a purpose-built police facility, constructed for the police and officially handed over to the F-SARS, Rivers State on August 23, 2012 by the Rivers State Government, under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, then Governor of Rivers State.

    “You are kindly requested to advise your client to desist from making false claims. Please be advised.”

    Fakorede, in yesterday’s telephone interview, also stated that F-SARS purpose-built facility had standard police station, cells, offices and residential quarters for officers and men, among other facilities to enhance the smooth operations of the special security outfit, while declaring that there was no way F-SARS could quit the facility it had been occupying for over five years.

    Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, at a news conference in Government House, Port Harcourt, accused Fakorede of taking sides with the leaders of the APC, while calling for his transfer out of the state.

    Okah drew the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, other Nigerians and the international community to the alleged atrocities committed in Rivers by F-SARS, under the command of Fakorede and the alleged deliberate refusal of the IGP, as well as the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reprimand or transfer the commander of F-SARS in the state.

    Information commissioner said: “Rivers State government is not after the person of Mr Akin Fakorede, but the odious methods he employs in doing his job and the consequences.”

    APC in Rivers, however, accused Wike and his allies of lying outright, in their declaration of war against the hardworking, focused and professional commander of F-SARS in the state.

    The main opposition APC in Rivers said: “The accusation by the Rivers State government is complete nonsense. If the police and particularly former Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, were the armed wing of the PDP to tackle the former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, years back, it does not by any means follow that APC today needs such an aberration or unholy alliance. We are a party of change.

    “APC has no special relationship with SARS or any security agency in the colour being painted by Wike and the PDP in Rivers State. We are happy that the Rivers State government and PDP in Rivers State have come out to unveil the real reasons they are battling SARS and its Commander, Akin Fakorede. They have spelt it out that it is all about 2019.

    “APC as a political party sensed it all along. We will not be surprised if the police high command already knows why PDP and Wike are whining, huffing and puffing about SARS and Akin Fakorede. Now, it is crystal clear who is politicising security in Rivers State and why the best efforts of the security agencies appear not to be achieving the desired results.”

    It will be recalled that Amaechi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), had been at loggerheads with Wike, his former Chief of Staff (2007-2011), who was the Director-General of Amaechi Re-election Campaign Organisation in 2011, before the then Rivers governor (Amaechi) recommended him (Wike) to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial appointment in 2011, over who would be Rivers governor in 2015.

    Amaechi, an indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, stated that to ensure equity, justice and fairness in the multi-ethnic state, it would not be proper for another Ikwerre person/Uplander to succeed him in 2015, while opting for a riverine successor, but Wike, also an Ikwerre from Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state maintained that emphasis should be placed on competence and capability to win elections, not zoning.

    Amaechi stuck to zoning between the upland and riverine parts of the state, leading to the emergence of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, from coastal Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro LGA of the state as the standard bearer of the APC, but he was rigged out, while he got favourable judgment at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, with Wike emerging victorious at the Supreme Court.

  • Transportation: Amaechi launches Committee, App to curb crime

    Transportation: Amaechi launches Committee, App to curb crime

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, inaugurated an 11-man Committee, Short Code *735# and social media App to curtail the menace of road transport related crimes.

    Amaechi, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said that the initiative would subsequently aid the creation of a long overdue database for the sector.

    The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sabiu Zakari, said that the Road Crime Control System (RCCS) project was conceptualised as a social service delivery programme in 2010.

    He said that the programme, which was created by Messrs 2TOC Solution Limited, was forwarded to the ministry by the Nigeria Police having realised that it would thrive best in the ministry.

    “The company has secured a code from the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), which is *735# for passengers to derive the driver’s Electronic Number(EN) to ascertain the authenticity of the genuine transport unions and their membership.

    “Having realised the importance of the solution, the Minister moved further and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Messrs 2TOC Solution and sought the collaboration of the critical and relevant stakeholders for effective implementation of the RCCS project.

    “The decision to set up the committee was reached as a result of the advice sought from the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    “Membership of the committee was draw from the relevant stakeholders with the mandate to map out a strategy for effective flag-off of the project,” he said.

    The minister urged the committee members to ensure that they come up with strategic recommendations towards a successful flag-off of the project due to the immense benefits it will bring to bear in the sector.

    Also speaking, Mr Benson Olatunji, Chief Executive Officer of Messrs 2TOC Solution Limited , said that the RCCS was targeted at providing platform through which the public can prevent themselves from falling victim of kidnapping.

    Olatunji said that every motor park approved and documented by the Road Safety Corps would be coded for the public to verify designated motor parks from illegal motor park operators.

    He said that the transport code was a policy tool to verify transport union and prevent passengers from entering unregistered vehicles.

  • Rail: More coaches to arrive soon – Amaechi 

    Rail: More coaches to arrive soon – Amaechi 

    The Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it will bring in more coaches and locomotives to boost rail transportation across the country between now and December.

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi spoke with State House correspondences after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, President Buhari was very pleased with developments in the transport sector.

    He said “He is also very pleased with what we have done in terms of the narrow gauge, between now and December; we are bringing in more locomotives, coaches and wagons, to ensure efficiency in the narrow gauge. We are expecting 10 for Kaduna-Abuja axis and another seven, which will hopefully go to Itakpe-Warii because we believe that by June, that axis should also come alive,”

    He also said about $16 billion is required to actualize some of the plans government has for the sector, especially construction of two deep seaports in Bonny, Rivers State and Warri, Delta State.

    The Transport Minister further said there are plans to also dredge the Calabar seaport, through Public Private Partnership PPP.

    He stated that the problem of gridlock on the road leading to Apapa port in Lagos would be over by December.

    “In terms of the narrow gauge, if not for a hitch, we would have commenced trucking cargo form Apapa seaport to Ebute-Metta-Lagos and takeaway the challenges we are having with that Apapa grid and bad road. That will happen before December.” he added

    On why he was in the Villa, he said “Don’t forget that I am the Minister of Transportation, obviously there are issues around transport that I have to discus with the President. You are aware that we have gotten approval for the eastern flank of the Nigerian Railway modernisation which has to do with from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri cutting across Aba, Owerri, Enugu, Umuahia to Markurdi, to Abakiliki, and to Awka, Lafia down to Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and to Damaturu and ends at Borno.

    “And also the other railway from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic I need to brief the President about how we are progressing with negotiations of loans and others and our possible financiers.

    “I also need to brief him about the current activities going on in the Lagos/Ibadan axis and what we intend to do to complete the Lagos/Kano railway. It is basically about my office.

    On when the government will commence work on the new approval for the eastern railway, he said “There are approvals but we have to look for the money, the money is just not there. It is not easy, it is a total of about $16 billon and you don’t pluck $16 billion from the sky.

    Whether it will be done through PPP arrangement, he said “That is the first line of action, we will try and see if we can work on PPP particularly as it patterns to the seaport. Don’t forget that two deep seaports have been approved; Bonny seaport and the Warri seaport. The Port Harcourt Railway Industrial Park will, we should also be able to implement that through PPP. l hope we can but l doubt if it will be easy to get railway as PPP because it is quite expensive.

    On the Calabar port dredging project, he said “NPA is on it. They have advertised not contractors; they prefer to do it in a PPP arrangement basically to see how we can dredge the Calabar port

    Asked the cost of the project, the Minister said “The total expenditure for that area may come to about $16 billion. Not all necessarily loan, the first step of action is PPP. It is after we finish with PPP that we can say the actual total figure of what the loan will look like.”

    Asked to speak on the President’s vision for the railway transportation, he said “That is why I was summoned. Don’t forget that the President sleeps and wakes up thinking about railway and if his BP will not rise, I must see him and tell him how far we have progressed. Once he hears that progress is being made he feels a bit happy.

    “He is also pleased with what we have done in terms of the narrow gauge. Between now and December we should ensure efficiency in the narrow gauge. We are bringing in more locomotives, we are bringing in more coaches and wagons.

    “In terms of the narrow gauge, if not for a hitch, we would have commenced trucking cargo from Apapa seaport to Ebute Meta and take away the challenges we are having with that Apapa bridge and the bad road, that will happen before December.

    On how many locomotives are being expected, he said “We are expecting ten for Kaduna/Abuja, another seven will also come and that seven we hopefully think it will go to Itakpe/Warri because we believe by next year June, Itakpe-Warri should be ready.”

  • Six-man committee to restructure Maritime Academy, Oron

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday inaugurated six-man Interim Management Committee to restructure Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

    Amaechi, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said that the Federal Government had approved the implementation of the reports earlier submitted by the committee.

    He said that the committee was earlier inaugurated in January to advise the government on the best way to restructure and reposition the academy, adding that the report had been submitted.

    “It is my pleasure to once again welcome you to yet another inauguration on the same matter, the restructuring of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.

    “As I said during your inauguration as a committee to advise government on how best to restructure and reposition the academy to make it comparable to successful academies worldwide.

    “To achieve the vision and objectives of establishing the institution, members of the committee now transformed into an Interim Management Committee.

    “We approach the Federal Government since May to give us the go ahead to implement your reports and we got the approval of the President for the committee to implement that report, “ he said.

    Amaechi urged the newly appointed Rector of the Academy, Cdr. Duja Effedua to work with the committee, saying he could also act in that capacity after the assignment of the committee was over.

    “The Federal Government had appointed the Rector with the idea to work with the committee and he can only act as a Rector after the committee is done with their assignment,’’ he said.

    He said that the ministry would provide the necessary resources to enable the committee function properly.

    Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Adebayo Sarumi said that the committee was willing to carry out the approved recommendations given to them.

    He said that the committee would complete its task within the duration of six months as instructed.

    Responding, Effedua, the Rector of MAN said he would assess the situation and challenges of the academy to enable him know what next to do.

    “I am new in that office, I have to go there to assess the situation, nobody can rise above the interim, I must go there to appraise the situation,’’ he said.