Politics

Presidential Bid: Amaechi Steps out of Transportation Ministry

By Web News 500

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has officially resigned his position in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari in pursuit of his 2023 presidential aspiration on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former minister, in his resignation letter, expressed appreciation to President Buhari for the opportunity to serve the nation, according to a statement by Amaechi Presidential Media Committee, APMC, in Abuja.

Mr Amaechi attributed the success recorded during his time in office to the substantial support of Mr President.

The Ubima-born APC stalwart was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and Governor from 2007 to 2015.

He was appointed Federal Minister of Transportation in 2015 at the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and was re-nominated in July 2019.

His resignation comes on the heels of withdrawal of presidential bids by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

Net/Ugbodovon Simeon

Politics

2023: I’ll resign on Monday – Amaechi

By Web News 449

Minister of Transportation and Presidential Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Rotimi Amaechi, said he would resign on Monday.

This followed the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, that all his cabinet members seeking elective positions in the 2023 general election should resign.

Amaechi stated this on Sunday in Kaduna where he met the party’s delegates ahead of the APC’s presidential primaries slated for this month.

The minister expressed his gratitude for the opportunity given to serve the country.

Amaechi, who disclosed that he would be resigning as the Minister of Transportation on Monday, said he was one of the youngest of all the Presidential aspirants in his party, the APC.Amaechi urged other contestants he described as elders to “go home and rest”.

He said he governed a state that was ravaged at the time by insecurity but was able to successfully tame the situation and expressed confidence that if elected President, he would do the same in Nigeria.

While presenting the Transportation Minister to the delegates, Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who described Amaechi as friend and confidant of the President, said the minister won Buhari’s heart in 2011 when as a Peoples Democratic Party governor of Rivers State, he funded the convention of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.

While reminding the delegates of their endorsement of Tinubu, El-Rufai said, “Many people contesting elections always say delegates will hardly make heaven, because they don’t keep to promise, but I always say Kaduna delegates are different.”

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Politics

2023: Amaechi picks APC Presidential Form

By Web News 532

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has obtained the N100 million presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He obtained the forms at the ruling party’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The former Rivers State governor had on April 9 joined the 2023 presidential race. He declared his interest at a thanksgiving service organised by the Rivers State chapter of the APC

Amaechi, who is from South-South, had severally denied being interested in the race before his official declaration. The minister was the sixth APC aspirant to officially declare his intention to contest.

Aside from Amaechi, other presidential aspirants on APC platform include the party’s National Leader, Bola Tinubu, Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

Also in the race are Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu; and former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Transportation

FG Reiterates Commitment to Completing Ibadan Dry Port

By Web News 536

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has expressed the determination of President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration to complete Ibadan dry port project before the expiration of his tenure.

He stated this in Ibadan during a visit to Governor Seyi Makinde at the Agodi Government House, Ibadan while on assessment tour of the port.

In March 2006, the Federal government approved plans for six dry ports to be developed under public-private partnerships using a build-own-operate-transfer model.

It therefore, chose eight locations within the country which would have the same functions as seaports, including the ability to process cargo and clear it through Customs.

The ports are expected to boost the economy of the nation.

The minister of transportation while speaking on factors militating against the project explained that the federal government only has access to 40 acres of land out of 90 donated by the state government for the Ibadan dry port project. 

Mr. Ameachi stressed the need for the present government in the state to create a road between Moniya and Old Oyo road to reduce pressure within the city when the port became operational.

Responding, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state said the state would partner the federal government to make the port fully operational.

Governor Makinde pledged that the state would fulfill its part on 15 percent equity agreement on the project.

The minister’s team was later accompanied by governor Seyi Makinde to inspect the ongoing Ibadan dry port, Moniya, Ibadan,in Akinyele local government area of the state

Iyabo Adebisi