The minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has claimed that an unnamed foreign investor had duped the country of N32 billion and fled thereafter during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan
The N32bn was paid from the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which indigenous ship owners last month tasked the Minister of transport Amaechi and Acting Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Haruna Baba Jauro to speak on the issue.
Amaechi, who spoke yesterday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, did not name the investor.
The minister said “about N300 billion was released to encourage investors in the maritime sector by the last administration but the many went down the drain”
He continued “In fact, there is a particular man who collected N32billion and left the country. I don’t think that the Federal Government needed to release N52bn to investors in the maritime industry”
“What we are considering is to facilitate a partnership arrangement between the operators and foreign investors in which case we can support Nigerians who had shown serious interest in the business with about 40 percent of the investment while their foreign partners bring 60 percent. That will assure us that we would recoup our investment.
“One of those who collected the aviation bailout who has done nothing with the money is walking freely on the streets of Nigeria; his airline is dead and he did not even deem it fit to inform the ministry.
Ameachi proposed NIMASA be scrapped due to the ‘massive fraud’ that goes on in the institution.
The minister did not stop his tough talk as he said the Federal Government might be forced to approach the National Assembly to repeal the Act establishing NIMASA, if its management fails to justify the utilisation of the huge resources at its disposal.
Amaechi complained that NIMASA had nothing to show for the N63billion revenue it generated in 2015.
The minister also backed his claim that the agency have been fraudulent with funds as
He cited the fact that there is lack of equipment at the agency’s search and rescue unit meant to monitor movement of vessels and provide treatment for injured personnel.
The minister also insisted that the agency is of no use because it does not carry out the duties it was built for but rather outsource their duties.
He said “Currently, the way NIMASA is, if you look at it very well, it was worse in the last administration. It was as if it was established just for the purpose of collecting money and nothing more. What we need to do is to ensure that NIMASA discharges its core responsibilities”.
“If NIMASA outsources its core responsibility, then it has no business existing. If it is just to collect money from individuals, anybody can do that. We can hire a tax collector to collect money from maritime operators on behalf of Federal Ministry of transport.
So, it is either NIMASA sits up and carries out its own responsibility or we come to the National Assembly to repeal the Act setting it up and allow the department of marine security in the ministry of transportation to discharge the responsibility currently being discharged by NIMASA”.
The minister also said the school proposed to be built by the agency should be stopped because it is seen as unnecessary and a way to misappropriate more funds.
“We are not going ahead with the university project proposed by NIMASA because we have an institution in Oron, we have Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, and we have the Nigerian College of Aviation in Zaria which we could upgrade to a University status and NIMASA is proposing to build a new one”.
“Who will attend the University? How many parents will allow their children to go to such place where it proposes to site the University? What is the aim of the University that we cannot achieve in Oron where they have all the necessary infrastructure”.
“I don’t think we are proceeding with the university being proposed by NIMASA because it is a waste of resources and unfortunately a lot of money had already been released for the University project hence there is no structure on ground but just the feasibility study.
Whoever that is holding on to the money should better return it. The Chinese company contracted confirmed that only the feasibility study was in place”.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan approved that the NIMASA University should be located at Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government.
Amaechi also explained that plans had been put in place to ensure that the dollar revenue accruable to NIMASA was paid directly to the Federation Account to boost foreign exchange for the country.
so what dose this man wan us to do nw
if its nt Amechi dat brought the foreign investorss how did he know abt the investment
this is the height of disrespect from this Administration, how can Ameachi a corrupt criminal like him saying this kind of thing about GEJ, is sooooooooooooooooooooo obvious that it was him that is even the foreign investor that stole from Nigeria that is if this sorry is even true and now he is open his mouth to say nonsense , Rubbish he doesn’t even know that Nigerian of today is not the propaganda type again
ride on my sister
amechi is the person that brought the dues to nigeria
amechi knws abt all his saying so EFCC start wit him ooh
from all investigation Ameachi is the foreigh investor that stole money, EFCC should arrest him and make him talk by force
How can amaechi be so bold to utter such statement? Was is not the same amaechi who brought the said contractors? He should know more about the missing money. If PMB must fight corruption, i think this is an avenue to justify himself by probing amaechi
And you who used Rivers States funds to fund APC presidential campaign, with about N53.9bn fraud to your name? You are not a serious person Mr. Amaechi.
Amechi should beter tell the general public the truth on how he brought the contractors,so he could get his cought.
Amechi oooh after 59.9b nw its 32b DERE RIS GOD OOH
Changes Chloe ·
if its nt Amechi dat brought the foreign investorss how did he know abt the investment
N32billion is no joke, The same amaechi was alleged to have stolen N53.9billion and now he’s fighting corruption with president buhari
Ameach who mismanage 53.9 billion he stole from Rivers state plus the 32 billion Naira he stole from the federal gov, an obvious thief like him should not even be talking
Hello Rotimi, you’re also involved in a fraud case that your party swept under the rug because they are now the ruling party, trying to protect you and they know they had to repay you kind because you help sponsor their campaign.
ameachi is accusing former president not knowing he made him who he is. u dont bite d hand dat feeds u ,if not…
public thief like u
Amaechi is saying nonsense, he should be in bars by now, what we he tell us about missing money when he mismanagement 32 billion he stole for him self.
dere ris God ooh all ds money u pple r sharing ooh
AMECHI ON POINT, LET THEM ARREST ALL THE PDP PEOPLE, IYALAYA ANYBODY!!!!!
stupid goat what do you knw
How can you say such a thing. The people in APC e.g. Amechi, he is a big thief and needs to be arrested. Tinubu should also be arrested……. Buhari is a better person to all the APC thieves around him.
Amaechi should be in prison now, why is he allowed to be a minister,while he is also a big thief.
sometimes i wonder the kind of political culture we practice in this country, Rotimi is coming out to say that a foreign company came and duped the country this woopy sum of money, a regime that he was a major actor before the fall between him and the past president over his own selfish presidential bid that he was capable, is now coming out to tell us that someone duped this country where has he been all this while, be wise with your comment MR Minister,,….am even suspecting you as a major actor in this duping you are claiming.
short up ur mouth you 53.9 billion naira thief from the so called hospital in Rivers state
Rotimi Amechi must be aware of these foreign investors who came and duped Nigeria, he can’t account for the 53.9billion he stole from the state and 32billion from Chinese contractors, Ameachi remember GEJ made who you are today……………
This man always feels the need to link GEJ to anything and everything. Are you not a saddist lai this Mr. Amaechi?
Efcc should go after this thief
EFCC by now should arrest Amaechi and put him where he belong,he should be the one putting on those handcuff for the money he mismanage last year. he still has mouth to vomit rubbish.
has Amechi forgoting how he got to were he is today?has he forgotten that the PDP and GEJ made him who he is today and he thinks he can act funny by accusing GEJ.lets know who is the bad guy
i wonder y he acts as if he hasnt dupe Nig. wen he stole53.9billion from his state and 32billion from d Chinese contractor. PMB u need to probe dis guy. he is an area boy dat take marijuana.
Someone that has been getting International Awards/Recognition up & dan, Amaechi is here talking crap. smh!
see Mr minister your hands are not clean in this duping activities, how much was your own cut??????????? answer ooooooooooo
N32billion is plenty money o, which way Naija
Amaechi illegally disbursed an approximate N2 billion agricultural loan; failed to fulfil a contract for the construction of the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of the sum of $39,200,000; illegally withdrew N96 billion from the Rivers State Reserve Fund; and illegally sold the Omuku, Afam, Eleme and Trans-Amadi gas turbines, as well as the Olympia Hotel. the same amaechi has the guts to come out and make noise?
Amaechi illegally disbursed an approx N2 billion agricultural loan; failed to fulfil a contract for the construction of the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of the sum of $39,200,000; illegally withdrew N96 billion from the Rivers State Reserve Fund; and illegally sold the Omuku, Afam, Eleme and Trans-Amadi gas turbines, as well as the Olympia Hotel. the same amaechi has the guts to come out and make noise?
If GEJ is bad He wouldn’t have gotten international recognition, recently he travelled to London to carry his grandchild he would have been caught when he travelled at the airport. Ameachi public thief like you.
amachi shutup joor
crime like him. Buhari is blind to see thief around him, is this can of people that are meant to put in prison
goan sitdown. you almost killed Rivers
This man is an idiot. In Rivers State, investors who were paid billions by the Rivers State Govt under his watch did not do anything. They stole our money and ran away. Billions were paid for the monorail. Today it is a sham. Billions were paid for the Karibi Whyte Mega Hospital. Today, there is nothing on ground at all. Several other projects of unbelievable sums littered Rivers State. And this same man is talking?
But the monorail is working as well the Karibi Whyte Mega Hospital was commissioned before he left office and still in good shape till now, are you done? Truth is bitter but must be to told. Inept Jonothing is highly corrupt.