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  • Buhari and Amaechi go on trial for Hadiza Bala Usma’s sins – Godwin Etakibuebu

    Buhari and Amaechi go on trial for Hadiza Bala Usma’s sins – Godwin Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    Scene 1- Personae Dramatis

    Muhammadu Buhari is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, duly elected since 2015. He is serving the last years of second tenure. This is a known fact to everyone; both in Nigeria and around the world. I must have better reason of starting this discussion with a well-known and well-established fact therefore.

    Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the Minister of Transport, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, to supervise over the ministry of transport. And like his boss; the President, Amaechi is having his last years of his second tenure in that ministry. There is an established synergy between the former and the latter. This, again, is an established history that needs not to be re-echoed except for some factual journey of interconnectivity.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority is a Nigerian Institution established by an Act of the Nigerian Parliament, through Cap 155 of the Laws of the Federation of 1954. The Nigerian Ports Authority came into operation on Friday, April 1, 1955. The operations of the NPA might have started on April Fool’s Day, but there is nothing “fooling around” with its actions except few intrigues on matters that defied natural logics, like the issue we are about to discuss.

    Lastly is the personality of Hadiza Bala Usman. This woman of Fulani extraction – from Katsina State and not Kaduna State, as many believed, was appointed as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority; by President Buhari, on Monday, July 11, 2016, for a tenure of 5 years and she remained in office till Thursday, May 6, 2021, when she was suspended [might as well be gone because they hardly come back once they start-off by going on suspension] form office on the approval of the President.

    There is one more thing to be said about this woman before moving to Scene 2, of this Film show of absurdity.
    By January 2021, the President of the Nigerian Republic; Muhammadu Buhari, deemed it fit to reappoint Hadiza Bala Usman for another tenure of 5 years, though her first tenure had not expired – the first tenure was actually coming to expiration by June, 2021. . The President signed the letter reappointing her and same was delivered to the woman – Hadiza. That letter of reappointment remains with the woman as we write this ugly tales by moonlight.

    We have gotten confirmed facts from the grapevine that this process of reappointing her by the President was done without the knowledge, or input, of the Minister of the Transport Ministry – Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. It means the woman got her reappointment letter over and above her Minister. And this gave the Minister; Rotimi Amaechi thorough headache. Who wouldn’t? But wait a moment, who is to blame – the NPA Managing Director or the President?

    Why this the manifestation of this typical oddity, you may want to ask? It is only the abnormality of the Nigerian administrative structure; under the present government that can supply the answer to above question.

    But suffice to conclude that an approving authority, at any given time, is superior to a recommending authority. In interpretation, Amaechi; who should be the recommending authority, is inferior to Buhari; who is the approving authority, in this matter. Back to the beginning; Hadiza Bala Usman was appointed in 2016, without Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s knowledge, input and recommendation. Just for the records. Let us bear this in mind as we go into the narrative proper.

    Scene 2 – Evidences and Signs of Oddities

    On Thursday, May 6, 2021, Garba Shehu; that extra-ordinary Senior Presidential Spokesman, told us about the removal of Hadiza Bala Usman from office – albeit through the route of suspension. Below was the announcement from the Senior Spokesman – again for the records.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

    The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out. Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position. The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary. Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister”.

    The reason for the suspension must have related to an approval the President granted to the minister, for probing a financial misappropriation at the Nigerian Ports Authority, under the supervision of Hadiza Bala Usman. Below is the reality of flow of events.

    In a letter dated 4th March 2021, addressed to President Buhari, Amaechi prayed the Commander-in-Chief to cause an investigation to be carried out to ascertain the financial records of NPA. Titled “Remittance of Operating Surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account by the Nigerian Ports Authority from 2016-Date,” the Minister drew the attention of the President to what he believed counts for a financial misdeed.

    The letter read: “It has been observed from the records submitted by the Budget Office of the Federation that the yearly remittance of operating surpluses by the Nigerian Ports Authority from the year 2016 to 2020 has been far short of the amount due for actual remittance.

    “In view of the above, I wish to suggest that the financial account of the activities of NPA be investigated for the period 2016-2020 to ascertain the true financial position and the outstanding unremitted balance of one hundred and sixty-five billion, three hundred and twenty million, nine hundred and sixty-two thousand, six hundred and Ninety-seven naira only (N165, 320, 962, 697).”

    Two weeks after the Minister’s letter got to the President, the latter gave approval to the former, on Friday, March 17, 2021, with these words: “HMT (Honourable Minister of Transportation), your above prayer is approved.” This was followed by yet another letter, signed by Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Chief of Staff to the President, conveying Buhari’s approval for the investigation of the alleged financial shenanigan.

    The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority was suspended because of her inability in remitting the sum of N165, 320, 962, 697 – accumulatively from 2016 to 2020, to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). Is it?

    The money not remitted is huge enough. That the unremitted amount spanned from 2016 [the year the MD was appointed] till 2020, without being detected by the supervising ministry speaks of a larger conspiracy’s circle. And that the Managing Director is being singled out for sanction is contrary to the laid down regulation – albeit the Presidential letter read out by the Presidential Spokesman; Garba Shehu. Let us read the President’s authority together once again.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

    The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out. Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position. The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary. Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister”.
    The first thing we should take note of, if we read through the lines diligently, is the fact that the President approved the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

    This raises some questions inevitably: Does the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, to be probed [according to the Presidential announcement], includes other top Management officials of the NPA or is it exclusively limited to the Managing Director alone? Is the Management of the NPA made up of the Managing Director alone? Are other Executive Directors of the NPA; so appointed by the President, members of the Management?
    Was the Executive Director of Finance & Administration; Mohammed Koko, picked to act as Managing Director in place of Hadiza Bala Usman, a member of the Management that ought to be probed or not?

    The Nigerian Ports Authority under the supervision of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director, came with a Board of Directors; duly appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Has such Board any role to play in remittance, or otherwise, of accruable monies to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) Account or not?
    Then we should fast-forward the Film-Cast into Monday, May 10, 2021, when the Administrative Panel of Inquiry was inaugurated at the Federal Ministry of Transport, by the Honourable Minister and try to examine succinctly the terms of reference given to the Panel. It might be shocking that out of the 5 terms of reference given to the

    Panel, there was no mention of unremitted N165, 320, 962, 697. Isn’t this a puzzle?
    We shall provide answers to these questions next week Tuesday, by the grace of God, ditto pointing out other oddities, before bringing to the knowledge of the Nigerian Public those facts that made the “sack [or shall I say suspension?] of Hadiza Bala Usman inevitable”. The real reasons why the woman must go would have nothing doing with the said unremitted N165, 320, 962, 697.

    Let me place this on record before drawing the curtain. Is corruption issue and mismanagement of public funds there in the Ministry of Transport, all its parastatals, and inclusive of the NPA? The answer would be yes, because there is hardly any area of the Nigerian sub-economy where corruption has not taken liberalism. So, the NPA could not be standing aloof over others in the business of vigorously prosecution of corruption and its associated benefits.

    This is one. Yet, there must be another point that must be placed on record before next week’s outing; which shall come with nastier part of the revelations from the land of Oddity.

    “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears; I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evils that men do lives after them; so let it be with Caesar . . . O judgement! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me”, were the words of Marc Antony.

    I have come therefore to bury Hadiza Bala Usman and not to praise her. Like what Marc Antony said, in the above quote, corruption; grand corruption, has made men of Authority to lose their reasons and sanity in Nigeria – and yet, my heart is in that casket where victims are twisted with lies, waiting to be buried.

    I said it before and l am repeating it again. I cannot stand tall anywhere to declare that any Nigerian Pubic officer of the present dispensation; including Hadiza Bala Usman, is a Saint, but let the truth be told of why and how the battle of fight for corruption is moving from Purgatory to Hell.

    And next week, we shall know why it is Muhammadu Buhari and Rotime Amaechi, as against Hadiza Bala Usman, that are standing trial in the public court of the Nigerian People.
    Arise!

    This Court adjourns!

    Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.
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    You can also listen to this author [Godwin Etakibuebu] every Monday; 9:30 – 11am on Lagos Talk 91.3 FM live, in a weekly review of topical issues, presented by The News Guru [TNG].

  • Amaechi inaugurates 11-man panel to investigate NPA activities

    Amaechi inaugurates 11-man panel to investigate NPA activities

    Following the financial infractions allegedly perpetrated by Hadiza Bala-Usman, the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Monday, inaugurated an 11-man panel to investigate the activities of the agency from 2016 till date.

    REcall that on May 6, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the recommendations of Amaechi to set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the management of the NPA under the leadership of Hadiza.

    Inaugurating the panel on Monday, the Minister charged the members to be diligent in order to do a thorough job.

    The committee’s terms of reference, include examining and investigating the administrative policies and strategies adopted by NPA’s Managing Director, Hadiza Usman, and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 till date.

    Others include “examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court ruling and presidential directives.

    “Examine and investigate compliance with communication channels, as obtained in the public service. “Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date.

    “Come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of NPA and forestall such occurrences in the future.

    “And any other matter that may be necessary for the course of the assignment.” In his brief remarks, Amaechi noted that the decision to take a look at the books of the agency is in furtherance of the mandate of the ministry to oversee the activities of agencies and parastatals under its supervision. He said: “This is in the discharge of our responsibility as a ministry and I don’t see why anybody is complaining.

    “What is wrong in looking at what is happening in NPA? I don’t see what is wrong in that. As the Minister of Transportation for four years, I hardly know what is happening and I want to know now.

    “The president agrees with me that it’s my responsibility as minister to find out what is going on “It worries me that people are saying we should not ask questions. Nobody has been indicted.

    “Can we know what is going on in NPA? That’s the question. “If everything is right, why do we have to bother at the end of the day? “When you have completed your assignment, we will be glad to pass on the report to the President, but don’t forget your assignment will include activities of procurement and its processes from 2016 till date. “And that is why you do not have a time limit. So, it will take you some time. You are not auditing, but finding out the processes.

    “Please be diligent, invite anybody you want to invite, including the minister, if there are infractions you need me to clarify,” he said. According to Amaechi, NPA is an agency that manages maritime trading activities in Nigeria which is expected to generate huge resources for the government to run the country.

    Also speaking, Minister of State (Transportation), Senator Gbemisola Saraki said the investigation was within the purview of the ministry.

    “This is why the ministry supervises and part of that role is looking, asking questions, and ensuring that things are done with due process. “For the panel, there is so much noise, so it’s best you block your ears. Keep your head down and do what is in the interest of the entire country,” Saraki said.

    Responding, Chairman of the committee, Suleiman Auwalu, who doubles as Director of Maritime Services of the ministry pledged the commitment of other members to diligently carry out the duties assigned to them. “I assure you that we are going to work; we are going, to be honest, and fair in the discharge of this responsibility. ”At the end of the day, we want to turn up a report that will be true and it will be in the interest of the country. “So, we are seeking God’s guidance for us to do the right thing at the right time,” Auwalu said.

    The 11-man committee is made up of five directors from the Ministry while the remaining six, including the co-chairman, Ben Omogo, are drawn from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari last week, directed Hadiza Bala-Usman to step aside for the entire duration of the Investigation while directing Mohammed Koko (Director, Finance and Administration of NPA) to step in an acting capacity.

  • How Buhari revived Nigeria’s decayed infrastructure in five years – Amaechi

    How Buhari revived Nigeria’s decayed infrastructure in five years – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has embarked on the rehabilitation of decayed infrastructure in the last five years.

    He stated this in Calabar during the 34 convocation lecture of the University of Calabar where he was the guest lecturer.

    Amaechi, who is also the former Rivers State Governor, asked Nigerians to support the current administration for its efforts in national survival.

    “The Buhari administration has embarked on massive rehabilitation of our decayed national infrastructure in the last five years,” he said.

    “Throughout the federation, major highways are being rehabilitated and new ones built. Critical bridges are being built to link major ethnic-economic nerve centres.”

    The Minister also reiterated President Buhari’s commitment to revamping the nation’s agricultural sector, noting that dams and irrigation works are being undertaken to improve the availability of water to farms to aid food production.

    Speaking on the railway, Amaechi revealed that President Buhari inherited a contract of over $10 billion to construct the rail project.

    While noting that the project would terminate at Calabar, he assured the people of the state that the work would commence before the end of the year.

    He added, “The President inherited a contract of $11.1 billion to construct a railway from Lagos to terminate at Calabar. So just wait, before the end of this year if you don’t see contractors solve the problem of your road.”

    The Minister also called on Nigerians to support President Buhari for his efforts in national cohesion and unity.

  • Osinbajo, Zulum, Amaechi for Dakuku’s book launch

    Osinbajo, Zulum, Amaechi for Dakuku’s book launch

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Borno State Governor Babangana Zulum and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi are among the distinguished personalities billed for the public presentation of ‘Strategic Turnaround: The story of a government agency’ authored by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The book, which chronicles the transformation of a strategic government agency is scheduled for public presentation virtually (via Zoom) on March 25, 2020.

    See details below:

     

     

  • Amaechi, Keyamo, Abugu, Afejuku say PIB for Niger Delta should be beyond sharing of funds

    Amaechi, Keyamo, Abugu, Afejuku say PIB for Niger Delta should be beyond sharing of funds

    At a time key players in the Niger Delta region are fixated on the passage, signing and implementation of the protracted Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), with the hope that the proposed legislation will eliminate the decay in the region, Transportation Minister/former governor of Rivers State, HE, Rotimi Amaechi has urged lawmakers to put legislations in place to ensure PIB doesn’t end merely as a revenue sharing agitation.

    This was the same position advanced by Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN; Prof Tony Afejuku of University of Benin and Prof. Joseph Abugu, all of whom made their submissions on the discourse at a one day colloquium, entitled, ‘PIB: finally getting it right and breaking the 20-year hiatus’.

    Speaking at the summit, Amaechi who said he completely support the demand for 10% derivation funds for host communities, opined that institutionalizing how such monies will be spent without compromising the real developmental goals of the region should be a significant consideration.

    His words, “I support completely the demand for 10% derivation funds for host communities , however, we need to ask what we do with monies beyond just sharing money. It is critical for NASS to realize that Nigeria can remain the same forever.

    “We need to ask ourselves basic questions what are we doing with the NDDC funds; I applaud the 9th NASS for putting structures in place to focus on transparency, for all those who want speedy passage, let us put it in mind that this must be done in such a that transparency is also put in place”

    The question of leadership is key, whether we get 10% or not if the leadership crisis persists in the region no benefits will accrue to the people.

    Focus should be on capital projects not just establishing wasteful commissions – Keyamo

    The Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Chief Festus Keyamo described the provision in the PIB bill as standard but opined that efforts must be geared towards restricting projects from derviation funds to capital projects alone.

    Keyamo lament how the establishments of several commissions in the Niger Delta has yielded no results despite heavy funding.

    His words, “Are we going to be excited about establishment of commissions? The Niger Delta people have always been content with making billionaires out of elites who give crumbs to the people. For me, the whole of the provision in the bill are standard provisions but we need to specifically protect the interest of host communities.

    “People only struggle to be Managing Director of such commissions, be on the board, or become a friend of the commission just to get contracts and not for the actual development of the Niger/Delta region. How do we ensure the we build roads, hospitals? Who are going to be in the trustees? How do we get people of integrity to lead this? If the NDDC had been restricted to major capital projects, all the monies coming into the region will have been more felt today.

    “Let’s limit our goals to capital projects that will last for over 50 years, that way we will ensure the monies will go to the realisation of real developmental plans in Niger Delta.”

    PIB bill retrogressive, empty, failed in ensuring affirmative representation of host communities- Prof. Abugu

    Professor Joseph Abugu, describes the PIB as a retrogressive bill for failing to respect federalism, lacking provisions for state government, host communities in several regulatory boards in the downstream and upstream sector.

    His words: “No effort is made at the decentralization and deregulation in the PIB bill; restructuring Nigeria is inevitable, I find this bill retrogressive and empty on this stance.

    “Consideration for state government, host communities are not provided . For the purposes of maintaining federal character and ensuring affirmative representation of host communities in these regulatory boards.

    “Also, the process of issuing of exploration licenses gives no affirmative roles for the host communities, and this can lead us to a point where a particular ethnic group can dominate the floor. It is not sufficient to base our interest on derivations, I see deficiencies in the structure of the institutions, scope of operations as it doesn’t pay attention to the needs of the host communities.”

    Without quality leadership, PIB will still fail Niger Delta – Afejuku

    Prof Tony Afejuku of University of Benin raised the issue of bad leadership in the Niger Delta region and how it the menace crippled the region’s growth.

    He strongly believe that no amount of revenue ploughed into the region will facilitate development until quality leadership is attained.

    The question of leadership is key, whether we get 10% or not if the leadership crisis persists in the region no benefits will accrue to the people.

    Host communities should be properly defined -Oghojafor

    Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Professor Ben Oghojafor demands that a more specific definitions need be made to classify host communities.

    “This PIB bill has been begging for attention; I posit that powers of the Minister of Petroleum should be further reduced in the bill, the host communities should be properly defined and stakeholder should be classified to avoid class of interest between host communities and impacting community. I submit that there is need to create awareness in all host communities

    “When the host communities get 10%, will it not go the same way that of 13% funds for DESOPADEC went? we need to look at issues of arbitrations, there should be alternative dispute resolution in the bill, to make it a holistic one and avoid endless communal clashes. I will end up in saying that the emphasis on gas will bring lots of opportunities to our nation if this bill is amended to capture the gains.”

     

     

  • #TNGPIB confab: The 9th Assembly is highly progressive-Amaechi

    #TNGPIB confab: The 9th Assembly is highly progressive-Amaechi

    Former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has hailed the nineth National Assembly for going this far to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, is eventually passed.

    Amaechi who disclosed this at the ongoing #TNGPIBCONFAB declared that he applauds NASS because it’s not easy.

    The former Governor using his experience as a governor of an oil producing state said that “we are where we are today because we share the monies among ourselves”.

  • #TNGPIBConfab: Ministers, Ex-Govs other prominent Nigerians meet today to brainstorm on PIB

    #TNGPIBConfab: Ministers, Ex-Govs other prominent Nigerians meet today to brainstorm on PIB

    Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Transportation Minister/former governor of Rivers State, HE, Rotimi Amaechi; Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and ex-governor, Bayelsa State, HE, Chief Timipre Sylva; Hon Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN; former Governor, Edo State, Ex-Senator and Professor of Law, HE, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor are among the prominent dignitaries lined up to speak to participants at #TNGPIBConfab, a one-day colloquium, ‘PIB: finally getting it right and breaking the 20-year hiatus’, holding today, March 10, 2021, (Time: 11am-2pm).

    Other eminent Nigerians who have confirmed their attendance for the event include, founder of DAAR communications, High Chief Dr. Raymond Dokpesi; Former Managing Director, NDDC, Ibim Semenitari; Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Monguno; Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe; Member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda; Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr Martins Oloja; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Professor Ben Oghojafor; Prof. Godini G Darah of Delta State University; Managing Director, AriseTv, Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu; Mallam Mohammed Jibrin Barde; Prof Hope Eghagha;Prof Tony Afejuku of University of Benin among others.

    Registration is still open (Register here) for the virtual event which will be streamed on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Zoom, and Youtube.

    The summit targeted at proffering solutions to the intractable problem of enacting a new petroleum law is structured into two segments with former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan and Former Senate President/ex-Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Pius Anyim standing as chairmen of the respective sessions.

    The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and the former governor of Edo State, Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor are expected to deliver the keynote address on the following topics: Analysis of PIB’s legal framework and its governance, how it will affect the communities and the administrative effects of PIB if eventually passed into law.

    The summit’s goodwill message is expected to be delivered by the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and ex-governor, Bayelsa State, HE, Chief Timipre Sylva and the live conference will be moderated by Chairman of TNG’s advisory board, Dr Chidi Amuta.

    According to TNG publisher, Mideno Bayagbon who is the Chief Host of the event, the focus of the summit is to end the seemingly intractable problem of enacting a new, mutually beneficial petroleum industry law that will transform the industry and put in place firm roadmaps for the federal government, industry operators and the communities and states of the Niger Delta.”

    “TNG, as a critical voice in the petroleum industry sector and in the Niger Delta, recognizing the new spirited attempt by the 9th Assembly to break the jinx and pass the bill, has decided to bring together all the critical stakeholders and authorities in the federal government, National Assembly, petroleum industry, governors of the Niger Delta states and host communities to chart a supportive pathway to enable the National Assembly finally pass the bill for the President’s assent.”

     

     

  • Two ministers, Amaechi, keyamo to be keynotes discussants @ #TNGPIBConfab

    Two ministers, Amaechi, keyamo to be keynotes discussants @ #TNGPIBConfab

    The stage is set for #TNGPIBConfab, a one-day colloquium scheduled to hold on March 10th, 2021 with the theme ‘PIB: finally getting it right and breaking the 20-year hiatus’, with two sub-themes to help tackle the delay in the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill in Nigeria.

    The event, a virtual experience designed to find solutions to the intractable problem of enacting a new, mutually beneficial petroleum industry law will be streamed on Africa Independent Television (AIT) while the session also holds as a web conference on Zoom.

    Among the keynotes discussants at the event are two ministers, Rotimi Amaechi of the Ministry of Transportation and his counterpart in Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.

    The colloquium which is structured into two segments will have former Governor, Akwa Ibom state, Obong Victor Attah and Former Senate President/ex-Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Pius Anyim as chairmen of the respective sessions.

    Other eminent Nigerians in the array of discussants at the summit include Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan; immediate past director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside; Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.

    Others are Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) GMD NNPC, Professor Ben Oghojafor; Member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda; Managing Director, ArisTV, Ms. Ijeoma Nwogwugwu; Prof Hope Eghagha.

    According to TNG publisher, Mideno Bayagbon who is the Chief Host of the event, the focus of the summit is to end the seemingly intractable problem of enacting a new, mutually beneficial petroleum industry law which will transform the industry and put in place firm roadmaps for the federal government, industry operators and the communities and states of the Niger Delta.”

    He added: “TNG, as a critical voice in the petroleum industry sector and in the Niger Delta, recognizing the new spirited attempt by the 9th Assembly to break the jinx and pass the bill, has decided to bring together all the critical stakeholders and authorities in the federal government, National Assembly, petroleum industry, governors of the Niger Delta states and host communities to chart a supportive pathway to enable the National Assembly finally pass the bill for the President’s assent.”

     

     

  • 2023: Only God, not man can decide who succeeds Buhari as president – Amaechi

    2023: Only God, not man can decide who succeeds Buhari as president – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Sunday said only God can decide who takes over as President of Nigeria from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

    The minister also dismissed suggestions that he is being touted as the country’s next president.

    Amaechi explained that he is focussing on his job as a minister and would not want to be distracted. He spoke on Sunday evening on a monitored Channels Television programme.

    “I am still the Minister for Transportation and only God can tell who will be the President of Nigeria in 2023,” the 55-year-old Minister said during the programme.

    The Minister had earlier said the Kano-Maradi (Niger Republic) rail project will cost the Nigerian government $1.9bn.

    “The project is going to cost us $1.9bn and we will source it from mostly Europe,” the former Rivers Governor added, noting, however, that the government is yet to secure the loan.

    “We are about concluding it,” Amaechi said.

    On how long it will take the country to repay the loan, he explained that it is not within the jurisdiction of his ministry but noted that the railway project will commence on Tuesday.

    “That is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. When we would pay; what are the terms of agreement for the loan and all that would be the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said.

    “So, that question can be directed to the Minister for Finance. For us in Transportation, our job is to work with the Ministry of Finance to procure the loan and commence construction and we think we would commence construction on Tuesday.”

    According to him, the project was initiated based on national interest, stressing that it would open up the country to more investment.

    “The interest is national; the interest is about Nigeria. The Maradi terminal is just 20 kilometres away from Nigeria; just 20 kilometres. So, there is no huge investment like Nigerians are thinking,” the minister said.

  • APC nullifies suspension of Amaechi, expulsion of Giadom

    APC nullifies suspension of Amaechi, expulsion of Giadom

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, has nullified the suspension of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Andrew Uchendu and the expulsion of Victor Giadom by the Igo Aguma-led faction of the party in Rivers.

    According to a letter by Dare Oketade, Head Legal Services of the party title “Purported Suspension Of Rt. Hon . Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Andrew Uchendu and expulsion Of Hon.Victor Giadom” and addressed to Aguma, the party said those who purportedly suspending Amaechi and others were not members of the party.

    According to the party, “The attention of the Party has been drawn, through the social and print media to the purported suspension of Rt. Hon.Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Andrew Uchendu and the purported expulsion of Victor Giadom, respectively as members of the Party in Rivers State by some so called ward executives of the Party.

    “We have checked through our records at the National Secretariat and found out that these persons are not officers of the Party in Rivers State. I am therefore directed by the National chairman, His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, to notify you, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress is led by the Hon. Isaac Abbot Ogbobula who was duly sworn in at the National Secretariat of the Party on the 11th of December 2020 by virtue of the National Executive Committee directives issued at its 8th December 2020 meeting held at the
    Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

    “By the above, I wish to draw you and other Party members in Rivers State attention to the consequences of impersonation within the Constitution of our Party and the laws of Nigeria.”

    The letter added: “It is therefore in the interest of the general public and our members in Rivers State that I am further directed to notify you that all actions purportedly taken by those ward executives, unknown to the National Headquarters of the Party, and you in the name of the All Progressives Congress are null and void and of no merit.

    “The Party will henceforth not tolerate any acts which are calculated to disparage the leaders of the Party or bring the Party to ridicule for whatever motivation.

    “May we also bring to your notice that the Party has set up a reconciliation Committee led by Chief John Odigie Oyegun to embark on the reconciliation of members in the South South region of our Party. We therefore urge you and other aggrieved members to approach this committee to ventilate your grievances, if any.

    “The Party will not hesitate to take necessary disciplinary measures should any member of the Party in Rivers State continue to take steps in impersonating the recognized State Caretaker Committee led by Hon. Isaac Abbot Ogbobula or any of his Local Government or Ward Executives”.