Tag: Amaechi

  • Shettima’s Unveiling: Bishops in Ceremony may not be real Bishops, but are Christians – Amaechi

    Shettima’s Unveiling: Bishops in Ceremony may not be real Bishops, but are Christians – Amaechi

    Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has admitted that the bishops that attended the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not be real.

    Amaechi stated this while speaking over the weekend at an event to mark the 60th birthday of Eugene Ogu, general overseer of Abundant Life Evangel Mission in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.

    According to the former minister, the persons in question are Christians.

    “Those bishops you saw [Kashim Shettima’s unveiling ceremony], they may not be bishops, but they are Christians,” Amaechi said.

    There has been controversy and mixed opinions since over 30 ‘bishops’ attended the official unveiling of Shettima as the running mate to APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

  • Alleged N96bn Fraud: Gov Wike Files Criminal Charges Against Amaechi

    Alleged N96bn Fraud: Gov Wike Files Criminal Charges Against Amaechi

    Nyesom Wike, Rivers governor, says the state has filed a suit against Rotimi Amaechi, former governor, over alleged fraud.

    Wike had set up a seven-man panel to probe Amaechi over an alleged withdrawal of N96 billion from the state’s treasury during the latter’s tenure as governor.

    The panel had also investigated issues surrounding the “sale of assets” by the former governor.

    The listed valuable assets are Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel, and the contract award for the execution of Mono Rail Project.

    The panel submitted its report in 2015, while Amaechi has insisted that he is not guilty of fraud.

    However, on May 27, 2022, the supreme court dismissed an application by Amaechi, challenging the probe.

    Wike, while swearing in three new commissioners at the government house in Port Harcourt on Friday, announced that criminal charges have been filed against the former governor, as well as Sahara Energy, a firm indicted in the deals.

    The firm is co-founded by Tonye Cole, a businessman and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

    Wike directed Zaccheus Adangor, the state attorney-general, to commence immediate prosecution.

    “Attorney-general, you’re at a critical period where people want to know what the state is going to do with the judiciary panel of inquiry after the supreme court judgment on it,” he said.

    “Luckily, you came at the right time when we have preferred criminal charges against the former governor (Amaechi), Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole and the rest of them.

    “So, you are coming at the right time to take over the matter and to make sure it is prosecuted diligently. I don’t want to hear excuses. Let the people see what happened to our money.

    “The world will see how $50 million from our account was moved to a company without anything to show whether there was a business.”

  • Consensus : We Recommended Tinubu, Amaechi, Fayemi, Umahi, Osinbajo – Northern Govns

    Consensus : We Recommended Tinubu, Amaechi, Fayemi, Umahi, Osinbajo – Northern Govns

    Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have recommended Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Transportation Minister, Rotimi Ameachi, Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) as possible consensus candidates.

    Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, saying the APC is looking at the possibility of a consensus candidate.

    “From our own recommendations, as of this morning, we recommended five people. In alphabetical order, we said Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, John Kayode Fayemi, David Umahi and Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Those are the ones we made recommendations and we said we should put them forward,” he stated.

    “Consensus is possible. Right from yesterday up till today, we have been doing consultations like Mr President said, ‘I give you the opportunity, work on it.’

    “The governors and the National Working Committee will continue on that consensus. As of yesterday, we were able to even reduce, made recommendations of about five persons, from 23 to recommendations of about 13 aspirants without disqualifying anybody.”

    “Within that 13 aspirants that were graded by the Screening Committee, we now looked at it and then recommended, that was jointly done by the Progressive governors and members of the National Working Committee, reducing it to five.”

    Lalong’s comments come a day after the APC’s NWC as well as the 19 northern governors insisted on the emergence of a southerner as Nigeria’s next President.

    APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, had made this known on Monday while addressing reporters at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    While briefing reporters in the company of some members of the NWC, he explained that the committee took the decision following a meeting of its members.

    According to Argungu, the NWC stands with the position of the northern governors elected on the APC platform for power to shift to the southern part of the country when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his eight-year two terms billed to lapse in May 2023.

    He made the remarks amid reports by several media outfits that a presidential hopeful and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had emerged as the party’s consensus candidate for the forthcoming poll.

  • Amaechi Hosts Mayweather In Abuja

    Amaechi Hosts Mayweather In Abuja

    Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, hosted American boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather in Abuja at the weekend.

    The sportsman, who is now a promoter of boxing, said his visit to Nigeria was part of the plan “to find the next Mayweather”.

    “It’s all about giving back, helping the youths and the young generation coming up. I want to build a boxing camp for the kids. Different American trainers will come over and work with them.

    “There are so many talents in the sports world over there in the United States, and Africa is dominating in the US now. There are so many hidden talents, so many skills, so we want the world to see these skills.

    “We don’t want it to be hidden, like I was able to display my skills and talents to the world, here I am today. I want to build an academy just for the children to grow.”

    He added that he would return to the country in the future “to train and continue to build my legacy”.

    “Before I go to Dubai, I couldn’t choose a better place than Nigeria. I look forward to coming back to Nigeria to train and continue to build my legacy, and we also want to help build a boxing camp for the young youth and children coming up. With the help of Keane [Anis], one of my closest buddies, who is from Nigeria,” he said.

    “It’s all about giving back. A while back, I knew we were supposed to come to Nigeria, but things did not go as expected, I’m here now, and I’m proud.

    “Being in Africa and being able to travel around the continent. I’ve been to Johannesburg, Morrocco, Egypt and now Nigeria. And, hopefully, before I’m gone, I get to see every country in Africa. Such a beautiful place. Africans worldwide show me love, and there’s nothing like African love.”

    On his part, Amaechi told Mayweather that the Federal Government would support any initiative to harness more talents in the country.

  • Chinese Embassy Debunks AlJazeerah weekend story

    Chinese Embassy Debunks AlJazeerah weekend story

    The attention of the Embassy of China has been drawn to a misleading report on an online news portal, alleging that Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Hon. Minister of Transport of Nigeria and one of the aspirants to the 2023 Presidential Election, “has secured the backing of the Chinese Government”, and “…several meetings were held between Amaechi’s allies and the Chinese Government”, even claiming that “China needs to … install its dominance in Africa”. The general public is kindly reminded to ignore it and keep vigilant on this kind of fake news, which is fabricated with ulterior motives.

    Mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs is the basic principle and long-term commitment of China’s diplomacy. With respect to Nigeria’ democratic political system, we are confident on the capacity of the Nigerian Government and people of organizing and conducting a successful general election.

    Statement by Spokesperson of
    the Embassy of China in Nigeria Xhanyang Xsng Hong
    (April 16th 2022, Abuja)

  • 2023: Southern Youths to purchase Presidential form for Amaechi, decry hate campaigns

    2023: Southern Youths to purchase Presidential form for Amaechi, decry hate campaigns

    Socio-political groups, drawn from the South-South and Southeastern Nigeria numbering 13 have declared supports for the Minister of Transportation, Chief Chibuike Amaechi’s bid to become the next President of Nigeria in 2023.

    The youths under the aegis of Southern States Youth Coalition after an extra-ordinary general meeting in Uyo, yesterday, condemned series of blackmail against the Minister, noting that “such debased action against the former Rivers governor is the handiwork of political jobbers”.

    According to a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the group said, “It is very worrisome that these kind lies could be posted into public space even when Amaechi has b=not even declare his intention, and those behind this attacks are afraid of Amaechi’s profile and credentials as a former governor and Minister in Nigeria.

    “This is the time to do away with political sentiments because the eyes of the youths are open, and we can choose who we want as the next President”, part of the communique signed by the Director General, Media Vanguard for Change (MVC) Comrade Ordinance Emeji.

    Warning those in the habits of criticizing the Minister to desist from such frivolities, the groups asked those they described as political detractors to “check Amaechi’s track-records as former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, the governor of Rivers state, Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum and currently as Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation.

    “Those sponsoring Amaechi’s blackmail are just trying drag his reputable name in the mud for political reasons just to distract him from delivering on the job of fixing Nigeria as assigned to him under the Ministry of Transportation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We are determined to support the emergence of a youthful leader like Amaechi, and that is why we are begging him to declare because the youths from the South-South and Southeast, we have already contributed cash to purchase nomination\expression of interet form for him as soon as he is ready”

    The communique, which was also endorsed by the Secretary of the coaltion, Comrade Igbikiminachin Elliot, added that it was time for all hands to be on deck towards ensuring a tension-free electioneering, charged desperate politicians to “play the game according to the rules”.

    “As far as state and national politics are concerned, Chief Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has paid his dues and the records of his achievements are there in Rivers and at the centre where he had been aquitting himself so well so many accolades and awards to his efforts”, the groups noted.

    “We are planning a one-million man march to impress it on him to declare his intention based on his achievements including national integration. The people should know that these are political times and many paid jobbers will come out to paint people seeking higher political offices with tar-brush just to please their paymasters.

    “Amaechi should brave off such oddities because those allegations only exist in the warped mindset of desperate politicians, therefore, he should never be distracted he is used to these attacks as a politician of so many years standing”, they communique added.

  • Amaechi, Malami Sued Over Alleged Unlawful Award Of N91.7bn Rail Line Contract

    Amaechi, Malami Sued Over Alleged Unlawful Award Of N91.7bn Rail Line Contract

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged unlawful award of 190 km rail line construction to a Chinese firm without due process of law.

    They were sued along with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the benefitting firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
    Plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2021 Duluidas Nigeria Limited, Duliz Dredging and Construction Limited and Consortium of Duluidas Nigeria Limited, Duliz dredging and Construction Limited/Hebbelyixin Fastener Company Limited, China.

    In their writ of summons issued by their lead counsel, James Okoh, the plaintiffs are asking the Federal High Court to cancel the letter of “no objection” issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in favour of CCECC for the award of the N91.5bn rail line contract in breach of procurement laws and re-issue same in their favour.

    The disputed contract is for the reconstruction of the narrow gauge track from Minna in Niger State to Baro with an extension to the Baro River Port at a whopping sum of N91.5 billion and a completion period of 36 months.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court for an injunction restraining the defendants from awarding or purporting to award the contract to the Chinese firm or any third party on the basis of the flawed bidding process.

    In the alternative, they sought an order setting aside any purported award on the basis of the flawed and heavily compromised bid process by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) with the concurrence of other defendants.

    They also asked for an order restraining the minister of transportation or any of his agents from presenting the CCECC to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the purpose of the award of the contract.

    In the same way, they are asking the court to set aside any purported approval received from the Federal Executive Council awarding the disputed contract to any other company during the pendency of the suit.

    The plaintiffs, who claimed to have quoted a lesser amount of N76.7 billion for the execution of the same project during their successful bidding, are alleging bias against them by the minister and undue favouritism in favour of the CCECC in the contract award.

    They alleged that the minister on May 19, 2021, wrote the BPP for a certificate of no objection in favour of CCECC in the sum of N91, 580, 101, 710 and that by a letter of June 9, 2021, BPP rejected the minister’s request on the claim that such certificate can only be issued to them on the basis of their quotation of N76.7b to execute the job.

    They asserted that along the line, other bidding processes were manipulated and compromised leading to receipt of an acceptance letter by the NRC from CCECC for the minister to be presented to the federal executive council for the purpose of the award of the contract.

    Plaintiffs, therefore, prayed the court to make a declaration that the action of the minister and his agents in interfering with due process of the bid process for the contract damaged the integrity of the process of law. They also want the court to declare that the minister and his agents were biased in their assessment of the bidding in favour of the CCECC.

    Plaintiffs applied for order of injunction against the minister, his ministry and the CCECC from continuing with the award of the contract and execution of same on the basis of a flawed process.

    In the alternative, they sought general damages to be quantified against the defendants on a compensatory basis and compound interest for loss of use of money.

    Meanwhile, a hearing in the matter has been fixed for February 17, 2022, by Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed.

  • Amaechi commends  pace of work on  Lekki Deep Seaport Project

    Amaechi commends pace of work on Lekki Deep Seaport Project

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has applauded the pace of work on the Lekki Deep Seaport project, and expressed hope that services would commence at the port by the last quarter of 2022.

    The minister, who undertook an assessment tour of the port site on Sunday, described the level of construction work as “very impressive”, and commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for availing the contractors the necessary support.

    The minister, who was accompanied by the Acting Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Emmanuel Jime, charged the contractors to sustain the tempo of work.

    He specifically enjoined them to re-double their efforts to ensure that the scheduled inaugural date and commencement of cargo operations was achieved, and reminded them of President Mohammadu Buhari’s commitment to delivering efficient port services, in line with international best practices.

    Speaking to the project contractors on his observations, he said: “the last time we came, there was no quay wall, just the breakwaters. But today, there are many visible improvements.

    “It doesn’t mean that you have delivered; it simply means you will achieve it. The last time we came, your chairman said it wasn’t possible, and I told him wait and see, if it’s not possible, then you know that I am not Minister of Transport.

    “We are supposed to commission by September, which is in the old agreement, but if you double your efforts on this job, we can commission (it) by July”.

    In his remarks, Mr Laurence Smith, the Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port/Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), thanked the minister for the visit, and appealed for increased government support on the construction of access roads to the port location.

    He also emphasised the need to link the port to the national railway grid.

    Smith acknowledged the support and synergy provided by the NPA management, especially in the procurement of Vessel Tracking System (VTS) for the Lekki channel and other port locations in the country, two 80 tons bollard pull ASG Tugboats, and two pilot boats for deployment to the Lekki Deep Seaport.

    Meanwhile, Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the NPA, has said that the port would have a truck parking area with a capacity for 300 trucks to avoid indiscriminate parking of trucks on the access road to the port when it becomes operational in the next few months.

    In a statement on he said that the terminal area, the Customs Building, would have a full-fledged examination bay for proper inspection before trucks are allowed to evacuate the area.

    There is also a dedicated area for impounded goods, he added.

    It added that construction is ongoing for reefer connections to handle perishable commodities, and erection of light masts which would be 25m high, so that the whole area is fully lit 24hrs daily.

    Dredging and reclamation work is now at 89.93 percent completion, quay wall 85.65 percent completion, breakwater 79.66 percent completion, land-side infrastructure, 6.82 percent completion, thus bringing total works carried out on the project to approximately 80 percent completion, the statement added.

    Equity owners of the Lekki Deep Seaport are Tolaram Group, China Harbour Engineering Company, Lagos State Government and NPA, (on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the project, on completion, will be a world class multi-purpose facility, serving as a regional distribution and transshipment hub for West and Central Africa.

  • I will resign if Amaechi names federal project he brought to Rivers since 2015 – Wike

    I will resign if Amaechi names federal project he brought to Rivers since 2015 – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to relinquish his position if his predecessor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, names a federal project he has attracted to the state since 2015.

    The governor spoke while receiving two former chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, Dr. Davies Ikanya and Igo Aguma, as well as other chieftains of the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    The governor also alleged that Amaechi claimed he sold a Dash 8 aircraft purchased by former Governor, Dr. Peter Odili administration, to the Government of Cross River at the cost of $6million, but failed to account for the proceeds of the transaction.

    The governor, who cited many projects he attracted to Rivers State while he was Minister of State for Education under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, challenged Amaechi to emulate him by reviving the moribund Port Harcourt seaports to create employment opportunities for Rivers’ youths.

    In his remarks, the State PDP chairman, Amb. Desmond Akawor, said the defection of Dr. Ikanya, Aguma and others marked the formal interment of the opposition party in Rivers.

    Narrating his reason for leaving the APC, Ikanya explained that he could not, with good conscience, remain in a political party that was built on deception.

    According to him, all the expectations that the APC will provide security, create employment opportunities and better lives of Nigerians had turned out to be a mere mirage.

    Ikanya said it was regrettable that the party had been hijacked by persons, who placed their personal interests far above the party.

    He used the occasion to apologise to the governor and people of Rivers for introducing the APC to the state.

    On his part, Aguma accused Amaechi of brainwashing him and others to join the APC.

    He called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to immediately investigate the finances of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2016 and 2019.

    APC chieftains, who defected to PDP were Chief Ogbogbo Nnamdi, Isobo Jack, former caretaker chairman; Paul Nwankwoala, former APC legal adviser; Faaye Franklin, Chief Andy Nweye and Alamese Martins-Yellow.

    Others were Ilamabo Mirila, Dr. More Oja-Chinda, Benibo Anabraraba, Alphine Whyte and Wisdom Wakama.

  • Wike, Amaechi clash over Rivers insecurity

    Wike, Amaechi clash over Rivers insecurity

    Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike and Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi at the weekend traded words over the latter’s attribution of insecurity in Rivers to high level of unemployment.

    Amaechi, who spoke on Sunday while receiving defectors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Wike destroyed all the programmes and projects of job creation he instituted in the state as Governor.

    The immediate past commissioners for Urban Development and Rural Planning, Dr. Reason Onya, and Agriculture, Charles Nwaorgu and their supporters left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

    The Minister said as Governor, his administration established many agricultural programmes that created job opportunities for the youths.

    He said: “Rivers State is in danger, completely. A state where properties are collected and somebody is busy building everywhere and nobody is talking.

    “When I was Governor, God knows, I did my best. I did not build only roads, I built schools. I did not build only roads, I built electricity. I built farms. I created employment. Rivers State was not among the highest unemployed community in Nigeria.

    “I felt that you employed me. I was not your master; I was your servant.
    I was not a contractor. I paid contractors so that they can pay their workers and the money will circulate.

    “The reason why crime is high in Rivers State is because of unemployment. That the reason why we had the Songhai Farm. Today, the Songhai Farm is gone. That is why we had the Banana Farm that they stopped in Khana.

    “That is why we had fish farms and that is why we were building a farm in Etche. We were doing all those things to create employment for the youths. That is why we hired 13,200 teachers and that is why we sent our children overseas to study.”

    But Wike, in a swift reaction, said it was disingenuous for Amaechi, to attribute insecurity in the state to unemployment.

    He said: “Is unemployment fuelling insecurity in Kaduna, Plateau , Borno, Yobe, Ondo, Ebony, Imo, Niger States governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC)?”

    The Governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said if the Minister, who is the immediate past Governor, had any modicum of sincerity, he would attest to the fact that security is the sole responsibility of the federal government.

    He said: “Is he (Amaechi) trying to indict his boss, President Muhammad Buhari, who is the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and who is constitutionally saddle with the responsibility to provide security for Nigerians.

    “It is a well known fact that Amaechi is the one who appoints every Commissioner of Police that has been posted to Rivers State since 2015. So, if there is any security failure, he is to blame.”

    Wike described the minister’s utterance on the current imposition of curfew in the state, following the recent attacks on police formations, as rather unfortunate.

    He said: “Perhaps, the minister is happy that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are killing innocent policemen , who were protecting lives and property. Is Amaechi happy that the weapons of these slain security personnel were carted away by the hoodlums? Amaechi, from all indication has lost focus and is now frustrated.”

    The Governor declared that his administration had offered scholarship to over 500 Rivers students to study medicine and other related courses at the PAMO University.

    Reacting to allegation by the Minister that he was acquiring property in the state, the Governor said it was better to acquire property in Nigeria than to do so in Ghana.

    Wike said Amaechi jubilation over the defection of his former Commissioner of Urban and Rural Planning, who was indicted by a Judicial Commission of inquiry, was a pointer that he is politically irrelevant in Rivers.

    The Governor further urged the Minister to return to Abuja and resolve the financial malfeasance rocking federal agencies under his watch, and desist from destroying the homes of others.