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Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East - Politics - Nairaland

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Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Blue3k(m): 6:07am On Mar 31, 2017
By Godwin Oritse

THE Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways, Dr. Patrick Asadu, has decried the lack of investment in transportation infrastructure in the south eastern part of Nigeria. Asadu also frowned at the neglect of the other modes of transport especially the inland waterways, in the Transport Ministry’s budgets and policy statements.

The lawmaker made these remarks in reaction to the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi’s explanations on why the Ministry’s N213 billion 2017 budget was devoted to railway infrastructure alone, while only a paltry N4 billion was allocated to the inland waterways, and also why such railway projects would not extend to the south east zone of the country at all.

He wondered why a government that is promoting national peace and harmony and a multi-modal transport policy can concentrate all its investments to the near total exclusion of a geopolitical zone where a high percentage of the overall cargo are traded, or neglect the inland waterways that provide 28 out of the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT with cheap, fast and secure means of transportation of bulk cargo, including containers, agricultural and mining products.

Asadu reminded the minister and the audience of the fact that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, clearly makes it mandatory that both appointments to public offices and development of the country’s infrastructure must be spread evenly, so as to command national loyalty and that it is the non-adherence to this Federal Character principle as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution that sometimes generates ethnic and regional tensions, agitations and even militias.

Ethnic and regional tensions

Asadu, a three time member, representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency of Enugu State made his remarks during the budget defence session by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and its agencies before the House of Representatives’ Joint Committees considering the Ministry’s 2017 budget estimates. The joint committee comprises those of Aviation, chaired by Hon. Nkiru Onyejeocha (Abia), Land Transport, Hon. Aminu Sani Isah, (Sokoto), Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Mohammed Bago (Niger) and Ports, Harbours and Waterways, Dr. Pat Asadu (Enugu).

Asadu also lamented on the very low budget releases to the Ministry amounting to only 24 per cent, and why even the meager releases were not yet fully utilized. He, however, urged the Ministry to devote at least 10 per cent of its railway budget to the inland waterways sector and see the effect on movement of bulk cargo and improved safety on our roads, affirming that the long completed Onitsha River Port, and the other river ports in Baro, Niger State, Lokoja, Kogi State and Oguta, Imo State would be wasted if the ministry cannot fund the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, to create navigable waterways to take cargo to and from these ports.

He disclosed that the Onitsha River Port is already wasting due to disuse since its completion in 2012. Disagreeing with the minister, he insisted that the Onitsha-River port had huge potentials considering the cargo loads to the South East which made this particular river port very viable, especially when the zone has been left out in the modern railway projects of government.

In his reaction, Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, explained that the Ministry was expecting further releases in the 2016 budget that may take their overall budget releases to over 50 per cent before the financial year ends.

He assured the members that the apparent neglect of the South East in the railway infrastructure was not the making of the present government as the projects were awarded by the previous governments of Late President Musa Yar Adua and that the President Muhammad Buhari government only accepted to complete these projects to reduce the plethora of abandoned projects in Nigeria.


He affirmed that he has proposed a new initiative that would cover the South East and other major towns in the next phase of railway development and that this new initiative has gotten oral approval of President Mohammadu Buhari who has a plan of taking rail transportation to all state capitals.

He promised that he would take a memo to President Buhari on this initiative and hoped to have a better report on the South East and other areas not covered by the present railway projects during the 2018 budget defence, claiming that he considers himself an Ibo as well.

He pleaded with the committees to retain the N80 billion proposed for Ajaokuta – Itakpe -Aladja standard gauge project in the 2017 budget as this project would be very useful whenever the steel projects in these areas are completed.

On the lopsided allocation of the Ministry’s budget to the railway sector, he insisted that the President is only interested in the railway development at the moment and that apart from the NIWA, the other agencies in the Maritime sector are revenue generating.

He also defended the issue of poor utilization of funds released for low -cost projects and items in the ministry’s 2016 budget, attributing this to those below him in the ministry, as his focus as Minister would not cover all the small items and projects detailed in the budget.


The Minister vehemently denied the question raised by the Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Bago, on the allegations of hoarding of projects and delays in the procurement process in the Ministry, with the sole aim of allowing companies promoted by certain individuals in the Ministry get fully registered so as to be awarded such jobs, saying such assertions were meant to tarnish the image of his officers and himself, as Minister.

The joint committees resolved to undertake a joint oversight of the Ministry as soon as possible to further interact with the Minister and other officials and also satisfy members on the 2016 budget performance before passing the 2017 estimates.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/reps-battle-transport-minister-infrastructure-south-east/

5 Likes

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Ikology(m): 6:13am On Mar 31, 2017
Hmmm
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by danio24ng(m): 6:16am On Mar 31, 2017
The need to open up Onitsha using various means of transportation is sacrosanct. Let's free the pressure on the Niger bridge.

44 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Blue3k(m): 6:17am On Mar 31, 2017
I hope this gets front page so people from south east see NASS is not trying to kill port projects. Every time these types make post they say the are alone in wilderness. Alot of states have interest in these ports like Benue, Niger and Kogi.

As long as pressure is kept on them through 2018 too be included in rail projects I think should satisfy most. The excuse it's Late President Yar Adua policy doesn't let them completely off hook. The plan could be amended to add more cities. The only on I saw covered was Aba in coastal line.

I remember posting a story on Ajaokuta rail line nobody read so this an update. If government sells the plant soon and production gets moving the line would be useful. Let's wait and see.

Did anyone see The minister considers himself Igbo that's interesting.

10 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by capatainrambo: 6:18am On Mar 31, 2017
I'm not surprised

2 Likes

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by coolzeal(m): 6:23am On Mar 31, 2017
The South East Region have been so abandoned that it makes me wonder if they're part and parcel of the Nigeria project. If you're going to restrict critical development to this region, isn't it wise to allow the region to control it resources?...

121 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by chiscodedon(m): 6:23am On Mar 31, 2017
Until they start hiring technocrats for the right job..Nigeria can't get it correct

38 Likes

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Kingspin(m): 6:24am On Mar 31, 2017
Useless leaders of Nigeria. The transportation industry should be open as a way to ease movement of goods general in the country. Providing one source of transportation be it on land, water or by air means under development for the entire country. Adjusting political and economic activities to just a section of the country also is selfishness and will definitely backfire. Give everyone what belong to them and Nigeria will be free.

15 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Kondomatic(m): 6:32am On Mar 31, 2017
Blue3k:

Did anyone see The minister considers himself Igbo that's interesting.
The "We Niger Delta" crew will not like this.

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by tysontim(m): 6:34am On Mar 31, 2017
Lol at Amaechi as an Igbo son should not be told to include Igbo cities, what this means is minister have no power the president does, until an Igbo Man becomes president fed infrastructure will continue to lack

22 Likes

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by ConqueredWest: 6:35am On Mar 31, 2017
Tomorrow some cows will be complaining when the wonderful people of SE/SS are shouting Biafra or Death

This is one of the things that stir up people to chant Biafra or Death angry

87 Likes 6 Shares

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Blue3k(m): 6:51am On Mar 31, 2017
Kondomatic:
The "We Niger Delta" crew will not like this.

Nobody seems impressed so far. The minister makes it seem like Buhari is tying his hands. He just needs to deliver on rail to SE and river ports to nation.

7 Likes

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Agumbankembu: 7:00am On Mar 31, 2017
OK nau.

Lalasticlala.
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by blessme2019(m): 7:03am On Mar 31, 2017
Truth is, as a business man, when it comes to transporting goods locally, I'll prefer land (rail) transport over sea, and road anytime anyday.

1 Like

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by juman(m): 7:13am On Mar 31, 2017
Hiss.

1 Like

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Buharimustgo: 7:18am On Mar 31, 2017
Amaechi is not only a stooge but his is very sick mentally,a northerner can never behave the way he does I don't know what is wrong with the South east and South south people

24 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by signz: 7:19am On Mar 31, 2017
Blue3k:
I hope this gets front page so people from south east see NASS is not trying to kill port projects. Every time these types make post they say the are alone in wilderness. Alot of states have interest in these ports like Benue, Niger and Kogi.

As long as pressure is kept on them through 2018 too be included in rail projects I think should satisfy most. The excuse it's Late President Yar Adua policy doesn't let them completely off hook. The plan could be amended to add more cities. The only on I saw covered was Aba in coastal line.

I remember post a story on Ajaokuta rail line nobody read so this an update. If government sells the plant soon and production gets moving the line would be useful. Let's wait and see.

[/b]Did anyone see The minister considers himself Igbo that's interesting[b].

Very interesting I must say.

Meanwhile, hope all is still well with our Ibom port?
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by mrvitalis(m): 7:22am On Mar 31, 2017
I don't know why we add sentiment to everything. Look at that map and tell me how the Igbo states could have been added ....maybe we should demand for abuja -port Harcourt ...then we are sure rivers ,IMO ,Enugu will benefit .....anambra should just have a rail to the warri port and an inland port ...goods come in at warri ..moves to anambra and cleared there ...we will get there

South east governors have access to over 800bn private investment they can tap in and do with what ever they want ...but do our governors even know this ??

8 Likes

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by ExplorerReturns(m): 7:25am On Mar 31, 2017
fratermathy conqueredwest paziena ikechu10 at least we can see amaechi our brother identifying with us, we are already tired of we ss crew. fratermathy limit your trash to your small and landlocked urhobo land with less than 2m people. we know how to deal with you guys, we will just activate your warri enemies.






Nigeria deliberately divided igbos and created south east for alienation,deprivation and marginalization. you wonder why Igbo's from south east troop to the west. it is because those areas have federal infrastructure and presence. I am proud of my se brothers because every single thing they have achieved is totally by their strength, hardwork and sweat. I am looking forward for the unification of every single Igbo speaking people so that we can further our interests with a common front. THE BALKANIZATION OF IGBOS INTO SOUTH EAST AND SOUTH SOUTH HAS REALLY WEAKENED THE IGBO PEOPLE POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, INFRASTRUCTURE ETC


we need a united front. say no to Igbo division!

37 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Blue3k(m): 7:28am On Mar 31, 2017
signz:


Very interesting I must say.

Meanwhile, hope all is still well with our Ibom port?

On the Federal Governments end I would say yes. They budgeted for it, gave 50 year concession and Free Trade Zone to area. It's up to Akwa Ibom to find the investors and budget it's end of the cash. I'll update if I find something interesting.

They have same milestonesthey need to reach this year.

Link: http://idsp.ak.gov.ng/overview-of-ibom-deep-sea-port.php

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by ExplorerReturns(m): 8:05am On Mar 31, 2017
mynd44 lalasticlala please do something
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by ExplorerReturns(m): 8:31am On Mar 31, 2017
mrvitalis:
Am 24 now
grin grin grin
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by ExplorerReturns(m): 8:31am On Mar 31, 2017
mrvitalis:
Am 24 now
grin grin grin
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by FellepHq(m): 9:12am On Mar 31, 2017
Federal Character, Always a character
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Nukualofa: 9:19am On Mar 31, 2017
mrvitalis:

Am 24 now
You still sound 16

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by olaolulazio(m): 9:24am On Mar 31, 2017
Thieves battles Buhari's saint!
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by Abbeyme: 9:25am On Mar 31, 2017
Story
Re: Reps Battle Amaechi Over Infrastructure In South East by dfrost: 9:26am On Mar 31, 2017
Fuji house of Commotion = NASS cheesy

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