APC In France Lauds Amaechi’s Strides In The Transport Sector

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday singled out Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for praise, commending him for his performance and transparency.

The party also urged the minister to keep up the good works, irrespective of the antics of some detractors who peddle false stories about his political achievements in Nigeria, particularly Rivers State.

In a statement issued in Paris and signed by the chairman of APC, France Chapter, Mr. Mohammed Olanrewaju Balogun, the party expressed profound satisfaction with Amaechi’s role in the development of the country’s transport sector.

The party lauded   the minister for addressing the challenges of mass transportation in Nigeria and developing transport infrastructure in the country.

Specifically, the party applauded Amaechi for creating an enabling environment for public private partnership, establishing a safe, efficient, affordable and seamless intermodal transport system in Nigeria and for putting great efforts to ensure the successful completion of projects initiated by past governments.

“Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has done a lot in making policies and strategies for the transport ministry” the party said.

The party said Amaechi had served Nigeria well and needed to be commended by all well-meaning people in the country.

“The former Rivers State governor remains committed to developing the transport infrastructure.”

The party, while extolling Amaechi for moving the transport ministry into a new phase, acknowledged his leadership qualities and his immense contributions to the development of Rivers State.

It urged politicians in Nigeria to set aside their differences and harness their energies to the task of development.”

“Rotimi Amaechi has elevated leadership to new heights. He deserves national gratitude and should be celebrated at 52” the statement added.

By Dame Ibifuro Tatua

Rotimi Amaechi Summoned By Senate over Exclusion of Eastern Corridor From Rail Plan

The Senate has asked Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, to appear before it and explain why the eastern corridor of the country’s rail lines was excluded from the proposed loan from the China Exim Bank.

In April this year, President Muhammadu Buhari sent a letter to the National Assembly, asking for approval to borrow $5.851 billion for the upgrade of various sections of the country’s railway.

The resolution of the Senate on Tuesday, was a follow up to a motion sponsored by the Senator representing Abia south, Enyinnaya Abaribe.

“The eastern section of the rail segment, which has a link between the south-east to the north-eastern parts of the rail line is completely excluded from the request.

“The loan being a federal government borrowing would be paid for by all sections of the country, therefore every section of the country should be taken into consideration.

“There is a railway master plan developed by the ministry of transport and of which such plans has not been referred to in the current borrowing plan,” Abaribe said.

By Ifreke Inyang

GE To Bring 200 Wagons, 20 Locomotives – Amaechi

Ahead of the proposed concession of the Nigeria Railway projects to General Electric (GE), the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi yesterday met with railway workers assuring them of safety of their jobs.  

The Minister also said the government had not concluded talks on the concession as workers would be carried along in the process.  

Amaechi who spoke at the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) compound during a meeting with the workers as well as inspection of the ongoing construction work of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line said General Electric planned to bring 20 locomotives, 200 wagons and establish a University of Transport.  

It would be recalled that a consortium led by General Electric (GE.N) submitted the only bid for a Nigerian railway concession project worth around $2 billion for two lines connecting northern cities to others in the south.  

The concession will cover about 3,500 km (2,200 miles) of existing narrow-gauge lines from the southwestern commercial capital, Lagos, to Kano in the north, and southeastern oil hub Port Harcourt to Maiduguri in the northeast.  

The Transport University, Amaechi said, would have a Faculty of Railway which would specialize in Railway engineering with a view to broadening the skills of railway workers.  

As part of the ongoing negotiations with the GE, the Minister pointed out that the concessionaire showed more interest in cargoes hence its decision to bring in the 200 wagons which would aid massive freight movements from north to the south thereby reducing the pressure on Nigerian roads.

Over 10,000 Railway workers under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association of Railway Workers (SSA) had said government cannot concession the railway without addressing the issue of workers welfare.

By Abdullateef Aliyu